Feb 10, 2026 February 10, 2026 - Business Meeting - 6:30 p.m.

CARRIES. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I'D LIKE TO CALL THE FEBRUARY 10TH, 2026 SCHOOL BOARD BUSINESS MEETING TO ORDER.

[A. Meeting Opening - 6:30 p.m.]

[00:00:10]

COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE ARE PROHIBITED AND ARE IN VIOLATION OF SECTION 18.2-415 OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA DISORDERLY CONDUCT IN PUBLIC PLACES AND SCHOOL BOARD POLICY 6141.1.

I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S PATIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING SO THAT WE CAN CONDUCT THE BUSINESS MEETING IN AN ORDERLY FASHION.

I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

BLACK HISTORY IS AMERICAN HISTORY, AND IT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER TO ENSURE THAT BLACK HISTORY REMAINS AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR CURRICULUM.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH IS A TIME FOR ALL CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO LEARN ABOUT AND BE INSPIRED BY BLACK HEROES.

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HONORS DIVERSITY AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR BLACK STUDENTS, TEACHERS, EMPLOYEES, AND FAMILIES IN OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE.

TONIGHT'S AGENDA INCLUDES A SCHOOL BOARD RESOLUTION IN HONOR OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS OF BLACK AMERICANS TO OUR NATION'S ADVANCEMENT.

ALSO, I DON'T WANT TO MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MENTION THAT VIRGINIA KINDNESS WEEK IS FEBRUARY 9TH THROUGH THE FEBRUARY 13TH.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE QUOTES IS IN A WORLD WHERE YOU CAN BE ANYTHING, BE KIND.

I HOPE THAT EVERYONE CARRIES THE SPIRIT OF VIRGINIA KINDNESS WEEK INTO THE REST OF THE YEAR.

ADDITIONALLY, FEBRUARY 6TH WAS CROSSING GUARD APPRECIATION DAY AND FEBRUARY 15TH IS SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER APPRECIATION DAY IN VIRGINIA.

OUR SCHOOLS, WITH CROSSING GUARDS AND SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, TOOK TIME TO RECOGNIZE THEM AND EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION FOR THE IMPORTANT ROLES THEY PLAY IN KEEPING OUR STUDENTS SAFE. WE WILL NOW HAVE AN INVOCATION BY MISS CHATTERS, FOLLOWED BY THE FLAG SALUTE LED BY MR. PARANTO. BEFORE TONIGHT'S INVOCATION, WE WANT TO REMEMBER WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE THREE OUTSTANDING EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE RECENTLY PASSED AWAY FRANCIS FRANNY JOHNSON, A BELOVED SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER AT MATOACA ELEMENTARY WITH MORE THAN 20 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE.

FRANNY CARED DEEPLY FOR HER STUDENTS AND TOOK GREAT PRIDE IN THE RELATIONSHIP SHE BUILT AND THE GROWTH SHE WITNESSED EACH DAY, ESPECIALLY AS SHE ENTERED HER SECOND YEAR WITH THE SAME CLASS.

SHE ENJOYED LEGOS, HARRY POTTER, AND CRAFTING.

BUT HER GREATEST JOY WAS HER DAUGHTER. FRANNY WILL BE PROFOUNDLY MISSED BY THE MATOACA COMMUNITY, AND WE HOLD HER AND HER FAMILY CLOSE IN OUR THOUGHTS AND HEARTS.

JOY PERRETTE, A CHERISHED MEMBER OF THE CHESTERFIELD VIRTUAL SCHOOL COMMUNITY WHO PASSED AWAY ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 31ST, 2026. JOY SERVED CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH DEDICATION AND HEART, MOST RECENTLY AS A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER AT THE CHESTERFIELD VIRTUAL SCHOOL.

SHE PREVIOUSLY SUPPORTED STUDENTS AND FAMILIES AS A COORDINATOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AT HARROWGATE ELEMENTARY AND BAILEY BRIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL.

THROUGHOUT HER CAREER, JOY WAS A PASSIONATE ADVOCATE FOR STUDENTS AND A SOURCE OF SUPPORT FOR THOSE AROUND HER.

JOY WAS KNOWN NOT ONLY FOR HER COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION, BUT ALSO FOR HER LOVE OF ARTS AND CRAFTS AND FOR BUBBLY, POSITIVE SPIRIT SHE BROUGHT TO EVERY SPACE SHE ENTERED.

EVERY SPACE SHE ENTERED WITH CREATIVITY, WARMTH AND KINDNESS AND LEFT A LASTING MARK ON STUDENTS, COLLEAGUES AND FAMILIES ALIKE. STEVE TURNER. STEVE TURNER FIRST BEGAN WORKING FOR CCPS IN 2001, WORKING AS A CUSTODIAN, CUSTODIAN TEAM LEADER, ASSISTANT CUSTODIAL ZONE SUPERVISOR AND WITH HIS MOST RECENT ASSIGNMENT STARTING IN 2018 AS GENERAL MAINTENANCE MECHANIC IN THE FACILITIES DEPARTMENT.

STEVE WAS THE KIND OF EMPLOYEE EVERYONE ENJOYED WORKING WITH.

HE WAS A WILLING VOLUNTEER WITH A CONSISTENTLY POSITIVE ATTITUDE.

WHENEVER THERE WAS A NEED FOR SOMEONE TO STEP UP AND WORK EXTRA, STEVE WAS ALWAYS AMONG THE FIRST TO DO SO.

HE WAS ONE OF THE MOST DEDICATED, GENEROUS AND KIND HEARTED INDIVIDUALS TO SERVE IN THE FACILITIES DEPARTMENT.

STRONG IN HIS FAITH, STEVE GENUINELY CARED ABOUT THE WELL-BEING OF OTHERS.

HE WAS ALSO THE UNCLE TO TWO OF OUR DEPUTIES.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THESE THREE OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUALS.

[00:05:03]

AS TIME GOES ON, WE ALWAYS HOPE THAT ADVANCEMENT IS BEING MADE.

SO IN THE CASE OF BLACK HISTORY, WE MUST NEVER LET PROGRESS FADE.

WE WANT TO LEARN AND BECOME BETTER AND TREAT EVERYONE WITH DIGNITY.

AS THE SUN RISES AND THE SUN SETS, WE MUST HAVE FREEDOM AND EQUALITY, FOR FREEDOM IS GRANTED TO EVERYONE.

THAT'S WHAT MAKES OUR COUNTRY SO GREAT. AND IT WASN'T ALWAYS THAT WAY OF COURSE, IT TOOK TIME TO ABOLISH SLAVERY IN EVERY STATE.

BUT PROGRESS CONTINUES TO MARCH ON. AND ALTHOUGH WE CANNOT ERASE THE PAST, MOST OF US TRY TO TREAT EACH OTHER FAIRLY.

IF WE DO, I THINK THIS PROGRESS CAN LAST. SO LET'S REMEMBER BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

LET'S LEARN FROM SO MANY PAST MISTAKES AND CONTINUE MAKING PROGRESS EACH DAY.

REMEMBER THAT FAIRNESS IS WHAT IT TAKES. THANK YOU.

WOULD YOU PLEASE JOIN US AT THIS TIME FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THE CONSENT AGENDA INCLUDES AGENDA ADOPTION, APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES JANUARY 6TH, 2026 BUSINESS MEETING.

[B. Consent Agenda]

MEMO NUMBER 005-26 RECOMMENDED PERSONNEL ACTIONS.

MEMO 006-26 ACCEPTANCE OF DONATIONS. RESOLUTION OF RECOGNIZING FEBRUARY 2026 AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

MEMO NUMBER 007-26. SIIP PLANS FOR FEDERALLY IDENTIFIED TARGETED SUPPORT AND IMPROVEMENT TSI SCHOOLS. AND MEMO 008-26 APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO THE SCHOOL BOARD ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE CONSENT AGENDA? MADAM CHAIR, THERE ARE NO ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.

ARE THERE ANY REQUESTS FROM A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER TO SEPARATE AN ITEM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION AND INDIVIDUAL ACTION? HEARING NONE. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED? SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE MOTION? ANN COKER. AYE. JENNIFER DARBY. AYE. DOMINIQUE CHATTERS.

AYE. STEVEN PARANTO. AYE. LISA HUDGINS. AYE. THE MOTION CARRIES.

MR. SMITH, WOULD YOU PLEASE ANNOUNCE OUR NEW ADMINISTRATORS? BOARD MEMBERS, OF THE ACTION THIS EVENING, YOU'VE APPOINTED DOCTOR ELIZABETH BABER AS THE NEW PRINCIPAL FOR THE WESTERN AREA HIGH SCHOOL, EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST, 2026. DOCTOR BABER HOLDS HER DOCTORATE DEGREE IN LEADERSHIP FROM VCU.

SHE CURRENTLY SERVES AS THE PRINCIPAL AT MATOACA HIGH SCHOOL, PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS THE ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL OF MATOACA HIGH SCHOOL. ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL, MONACAN HIGH SCHOOL. ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL, DEAN OF STUDENTS, AND SPECIALTY CENTER COORDINATOR AT MILFORD HIGH SCHOOL.

PLEASE JOIN ME CONGRATULATING DOCTOR ELIZABETH BABER.

[APPLAUSE]. CONGRATULATIONS. NEXT WE HAVE THIS EVENING'S PUBLIC HEARINGS.

[C. Public Hearing - Superintendent's Proposed FY2027 Financial Plan]

THE FIRST WILL BE HELD FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED FY 2027 FINANCIAL PLAN.

THIS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PROPOSED FY 2027 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.

WE ARE VERY INTERESTED IN HEARING YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT BOTH PROPOSED PLANS.

THE SCHOOL BOARD WILL TAKE ACTION TO APPROVE THE BUDGET AND THE CIP AT THE FEBRUARY 24TH SPECIAL MEETING OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.

FOR BOTH PUBLIC HEARINGS THIS EVENING, CITIZENS WERE GIVEN THE OPTION OF SUBMITTING THEIR COMMENTS ONLINE OR IN PERSON.

COMMENTS SUBMITTED VIA THE ONLINE FORM WERE SENT TO THE BOARD PRIOR TO THE START OF TONIGHT'S MEETING, POSTED TO THE BOARD DOCS SITE AND WILL BE INCLUDED IN FULL AS AN ADDENDUM TO THE MINUTES MEETING MINUTES.

IN PERSON COMMENTS WILL BE SUMMARIZED BY THE BOARD CLERK AND INCLUDED IN THE OFFICIAL MEETING MINUTES.

DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED ALONG WITH IN-PERSON COMMENTS WILL, UPON REQUEST, BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE BOARD BUT NOT INCLUDED AS PART OF THE BOARD'S OFFICIAL MINUTES. WE WILL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR COMMENTS RELATED TO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED FY 2027 FINANCIAL PLAN.

[00:10:10]

AS I'LL CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND BE READY TO SPEAK IN THE ORDER THAT YOU ARE CALLED.

MAY WE HAVE WENDY LITTLE? MADAM CHAIR, THERE ARE NO OTHER SPEAKERS THAT SIGNED UP FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING.

OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. TONIGHT'S PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT'S FY 2027 FINANCIAL PLAN IS CLOSED.

NEXT, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE COMMENTS ON THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED FY 2027 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.

[D. Public Hearing - Superintendent's Proposed FY2027 Capital Improvement Plan]

AS I CALL YOUR NAMES, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND BE READY TO SPEAK IN THE ORDER THAT YOU ARE CALLED.

MAY WE HAVE CRYSTAL BARKER AND WENDY LITTLE? AS A REMINDER, I'LL REPEAT THIS PROTOCOL FOR THIS EVENING.

EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE FOUR MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD. THERE'S A TIMER SET UP ON TOP OF THE PODIUM THAT WILL TURN GREEN WHEN YOU BEGIN SPEAKING, YELLOW WHEN YOU HAVE 30S REMAINING, AND RED WHEN YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

AS A REMINDER, NO PERSONAL BELONGINGS OTHER THAN A CELL PHONE AND SPEAKER NOTES ARE ALLOWED AT THE PODIUM.

PLEASE HAVE YOUR MATERIALS ORGANIZED IN A MANNER THAT, AS YOU ARRIVE AT THE PODIUM, YOU'RE PREPARED TO START SPEAKING.

PLEASE NOTE THAT COMMENTS EQUIVALENT TO CAMPAIGNING FOR ANY PUBLIC OFFICE ARE IN VIOLATION OF SCHOOL BOARD POLICY 1110 AND ARE PROHIBITED.

MAY WE HAVE CRYSTAL BARKER? HELLO, I'M CRYSTAL BARKER, PROUD CHESTERFIELD CITIZEN, HIGH SCHOOL PARENT AND HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HEAD OF 30 YEARS TEACHING HERE IN CCPS AT L.C.

BIRD HIGH SCHOOL. I'VE COACHED OVER 80 SPORTS TEAMS FOR STUDENTS WITH AND WITHOUT DISABILITIES, AND I CONTINUE TO DO SO ABOUT SEVEN A YEAR. I AM VERY VESTED IN WHAT I DO, AND I LOVE OUR CAREER, AND I AM HERE TO SUPPORT YOU AND MY FELLOW PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE AS WELL, TO REPRESENT A BIG ASK.

I NEED YOU TO REINFORCE THE EXTREME NEED FOR L.C.

BIRD TO HAVE AN A GYMNASIUM ADDITION. NOT IN THE FAR FUTURE, IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

WE HAVE BEEN IN THE SITUATION OF DEALING WITH IT FOR WAY TOO LONG.

I'M A NATIONAL AWARD RECIPIENT TONIGHT, AND NATIONAL BOARD TAUGHT US ABOUT REFLECTION.

SO I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO REFLECT WITH ME ON OUR CORE VALUES FOR CCPS.

INTEGRITY, EQUITY, TEAMWORK AND INGENUITY. INTEGRITY, 1998.

NEW TEACHERS SITTING IN L.C. BIRD BEING TOLD WE'RE THE FIRST GYM THAT'S GOING TO GET RENOVATED.

WE WERE SO EXCITED. AND I SAT THERE AND LISTENED, AND OUR ATHLETIC DIRECTOR POINTED OUT THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL TEACHING SPACES.

WE HAVE TWO AND WE'RE STILL GOING TO REMAIN HAVING TWO.

THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL AUXILIARY GYM. IT'S GOING TO BE THE SAME BUT WE DO NEED A NEW FLOOR.

THE LOCKER ROOMS ARE TINY. WE'RE GOING TO EXPAND THOSE.

AND WE'RE ALSO GOING TO GIVE YOU SOME NEW OFFICES.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT BETTER. AND WE SAT DOWN IN A MEETING AND HE SAID, WAIT A MINUTE, WE HAVE A BETTER PROPOSAL. AND HE DREW UP A MULTI COURT GYMNASIUM TO BE BUILT DIRECTLY OUTSIDE BEHIND WHERE WE CURRENTLY WERE AND SAID LEAVE OUR CURRENT ONES ALONE. WE STILL NEED THEM AND WE STILL NEED THEM.

LEAVE THEM ALONE. BUT THIS IS ALMOST EQUITABLE TO THE COST, AND WE WERE WILLING TO FUNDRAISE FOR THE DIFFERENCE.

CHESTERFIELD'S RESPONSE WAS, NO, WE CAN'T LET YOU DO THAT.

THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO BUILD A MULTI GYM GYMNASIUM FOR EVERY HIGH SCHOOL.

SO HERE WE GO. WE WENT AHEAD AND STARTED THE PROJECT AND PARTWAY THROUGH WE WERE TOLD IT'S OVER BUDGET.

WE'RE SORRY. 50% OF YOUR FACILITY IS GOING TO STAY EXACTLY THE SAME.

NO NEW LOCKER ROOMS, NO NEW OFFICES, NO NEW STORAGE AREAS.

STILL TWO TEACHING AREAS IN THE MAIN GYM. STILL THE SAME FLOOR IN THE BACK GYM TODAY.

IT'S NOT FAIR. EQUITY. WE IMAGINE SITTING THERE AS A TEACHER OVER A 30 YEAR CAREER THIS YEAR, AND WATCHING THE SAME MULTI GYM PROPOSAL THAT WE PROPOSED BEING BUILT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN THIS COUNTY.

AND I TEACH IN SERVICES FOR CHESTERFIELD, BUT I TEACH THEM AT OTHER HIGH SCHOOLS BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ROOM TO DO WHAT I REALLY WANT TO DO.

I NEED YOU TO PLEASE BACK THE FACT THAT OUR GYMNASIUM HAS 150, AND THE NEW ONES HAVE UP TO 2000 CAPACITY.

WE ARE WHERE CHAMPIONS REIGN, BUT WE CAN'T HOST THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN OUR GYM.

IT'S NOT BIG ENOUGH. WE HAVE TO GO TO ANOTHER GYM TO DO THAT.

WE'VE EARNED THAT RIGHT. BECAUSE IN 2020, WE WERE TOLD WE'RE GETTING A NEW GYM IN 2027 AND THEN IT'S GOING TO BE

[00:15:07]

WE STILL ARE NOT OFFICIALLY ON 2031. WE ARE UNDER ADDITIONAL PROJECTS FOR THE FUTURE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST.

WE'VE WAITED LONG ENOUGH. I'M PROBABLY GOING TO BE OUT OF HERE BEFORE YOU DO IT, BUT THERE'S NO MIDDLE SCHOOLERS THAT ARE EVEN GOING TO GET IN IT RIGHT NOW.

WE NEED TO MAKE A CHANGE. I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT EQUITY, BUT I DO BELIEVE IN YOU.

TEAMWORK. BY TEN HEALTH AND PE TEAMWORK TEACHERS WORK EVERY DAY VERY CLOSELY IN THAT 16 BY 10 OFFICE FOR FIVE PE TEACHERS IN EACH LOCKER ROOM TO OVERSEE 1200 STUDENTS AND TEACH SEVEN DIFFERENT CURRICULUMS IN 50 CLASSES DAILY THROUGHOUT THE WEEK.

OUR TEACHERS FOCUS OUR LESSON PLANS AROUND.

NOT AROUND. THANK YOU, MISS BARKER. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

THANK YOU. MAY WE HAVE WENDY LITTLE? MADAM CHAIR, NO MORE SPEAKERS SIGNED UP IN ADVANCE.

THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. TONIGHT'S PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED FY 2027 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN IS CLOSED.

THANK YOU TO ALL OF TONIGHT'S SPEAKERS FOR BOTH PUBLIC HEARINGS.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS, FEEDBACK AND SUGGESTIONS.

THE BOARD WILL TAKE ACTION TO APPROVE THE FY 2027 FINANCIAL PLAN AND THE FY 2027 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AT THE FEBRUARY 24TH SPECIAL MEETING OF THE SCHOOL BOARD. NEXT WE HAVE AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS.

[E. Awards and Recognitions]

THE CHESTERFIELD RECOVERY ACADEMY IS NOW ACCREDITED THROUGH THE ASSOCIATION OF RECOVERY SCHOOLS. JUSTIN SAVOY, PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF THE CHESTERFIELD RECOVERY ACADEMY, RECEIVED WORD IN LATE DECEMBER THAT THE ASSOCIATION'S THOROUGH REVIEW RESULTED IN A POSITIVE EVALUATION. ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, ONLY 12 SCHOOLS HOLD THIS DISTINCTION.

THE EVALUATION NOTED IN PARTICULAR THAT CHESTERFIELD RECOVERY ACADEMY EXCELS IN EDUCATIONAL PRACTICES AND ITS RECOVERY PRACTICES HAVE MANY STRONG ELEMENTS, ESPECIALLY MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT. PLEASE JOIN ME CONGRATULATING THE CHESTERFIELD RECOVERY ACADEMY.

[APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND THE HONOR THAT THIS REPRESENTS FOR THE WORK THAT YOUR ENTIRE STAFF HAS DONE TO GET THIS ACCREDITATION. THAT IS JUST REALLY EXCITING.

IT'S A GREAT, INCREDIBLE SERVICE TO THE STUDENTS WHO NEED TO ATTEND YOUR SCHOOL.

AND SO I'M JUST SO THANKFUL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND THIS HONOR.

I'M EXCITED FOR WHAT THIS MEANS FOR OUR STUDENTS.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE? I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK THE COUNTY.

I WILL SAY THAT THIS IS MY THIRD SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND THIS IS THE MOST SUPPORT I'VE EVER RECEIVED AS AN ADMIN.

SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY BEING HERE AND BRINGING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THE REGION.

WE ARE LEADING THE STATE. BECAUSE OF THE EFFORTS IN CHESTERFIELD, THE STATE HAS TAKEN EFFORT AND WE NOW HAVE REPRESENTATION IN DOE AND DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BECAUSE OF WHAT CHESTERFIELD HAVE DONE. AND SO I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND MANY YEARS TO COME.

[APPLAUSE]. IF I COULD ASK SUE ANDERSON TO COME FORWARD THIS TIME AND AFTER SUE, WE'RE GOING TO DO THE STATEWIDE ART AWARDS AND THEN THE NBCT TEACHERS.

CONGRATULATIONS TO SUE ANDERSON, WHO WAS HONORED BY THE VIRGINIA ASSOCIATION OF SCIENCE TEACHERS FOR HER WORK TEACHING SCIENCE AT CARVER COLLEGE AND CAREER ACADEMY.

THE ASSOCIATION ANNUALLY PRESENTS RISE AWARDS IN SEVERAL CATEGORIES TO SPOTLIGHT THE EXCELLENT WORK BY SCIENCE EDUCATORS ACROSS VIRGINIA.

SUE WON FOR TEACHING AT RISK STUDENTS. SUE JOINED CHESTER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN 1999, AND SINCE 2000 HAS TAUGHT AT HARVARD COLLEGE AND CAREER ACADEMY, WHERE SHE ALSO LEADS THE SCIENCE DEPARTMENT. PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING SUE ANDERSON.

AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD ONE OTHER PIECE IN HERE.

THIS WAS STATED FOR YOUR NOMINATION. WHAT DISTINGUISHES SUE MOST IS HER UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO CULTIVATING MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH HER STUDENTS. SHE RECOGNIZES THAT ACADEMIC SUCCESS IS BUILT UPON TRUST AND MUTUAL RESPECT.

[00:20:06]

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT WHAT MAKES SCIENCE EXCITING AND WHAT YOU GIVE OUR STUDENTS IN EVERYDAY CLASSROOM? I THINK IT ALL COMES BACK TO THE LEADERSHIP TEAM WHO'S ALWAYS WILLING TO LET US TRY ANYTHING THAT YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ALWAYS LIKE, GIVE IT A TRY. LET'S SEE HOW IT WORKS OUT.

THEY'RE JUST VERY OPEN TO TRYING NEW THINGS. AND OF COURSE, WE HAVE GREAT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND A WONDERFUL SECONDARY SCIENCE SPECIALIST. ALSO. JANINE, DELIA HAS REALLY HELPED ME OUT A LOT.

CONGRATULATIONS. IT SHOWS. [APPLAUSE].

NEXT UP WE HAVE OUR ART AWARDS. IF I COULD ASK JIMMY AND SHANNON TO COME FORWARD THIS TIME.

VIRGINIA'S ART EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR AND VIRGINIA'S SECONDARY ART EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR BOTH TEACH IN CHESTER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. JIMMY HEARD, THE CCPS VISUAL ART CURRICULUM SPECIALIST, IS VIRGINIA'S ART EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR.

AND THE VIRGINIA ART EDUCATION ASSOCIATION NAMED SHANNON SISSOKO OF THOMAS DALE HIGH SCHOOL AS A STATE SECONDARY ART EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR.

PLEASE JOIN ME CONGRATULATING BOTH OF THESE EDUCATORS.

[APPLAUSE]. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU BOTH. ART IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT THING TO HAVE IN OUR CURRICULUM, AND HONORED THAT IN THE BERMUDA DISTRICT IS THE HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE CENTER OF THE ARTS.

AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR OUR THOMAS DALE STUDENTS AND JIMMY, FOR WHAT YOU DO TO LEAD THE ART CURRICULUM FOR CCPS.

ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THIS EVENING? I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE I WORK WITH. I'VE BEEN HERE IN CHESTERFIELD SINCE 1985 AS A KINDERGARTNER AT CHALKELY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND I LOVE MY JOB, AND I LOVE MY EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH ALL THE FANTASTIC TEACHERS AND STUDENTS AND COLLEAGUES AND SUPERVISORS THAT WE HAVE HERE. IT'S TRULY A SPECIAL PLACE, AND I CAN'T THANK EVERYONE ENOUGH.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK JIMMY ALSO BECAUSE HE'S A GREAT ART CURRICULUM SPECIALIST.

AND THANK YOU, ANN. I HAD THE PLEASURE OF TEACHING ANN'S SON AT THE SPECIALTY CENTER.

AND I STARTED IN CHESTERFIELD. WELL, I'M TEACHING AT THOMAS DALE, AND I GRADUATED FROM THOMAS DALE, AND I RODE THE BUS TO THOMAS DALE TOGETHER MANY MOONS AGO.

BUT I LOVE WHAT I DO ALSO. AND I LOVE BEING AN ADVOCATE FOR THE ARTS IN THE SCHOOLS, AND I THINK THEY ARE A VERY IMPORTANT TO MAKE OUR STUDENTS A HOLISTIC HUMAN. SO. CONGRATULATIONS.

[APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. IF I COULD ASK OUR NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHERS TO COME FORWARD THIS TIME. AND THE NEXT RECOGNITION WILL BE FOR OUR SCHOOL COUNSELORS.

NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION IS THE HIGHEST MARK OF PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN TEACHING, WITH ONLY 4% OF TEACHERS IN THE UNITED STATES EARNING THIS DISTINCTION.

TONIGHT, WE'RE CELEBRATING OUR TEACHERS WHO RECENTLY ACHIEVED NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION AND OUR EDUCATORS WHO RENEWED THEIR CERTIFICATION.

SEVEN TEACHERS EARNED THEIR INITIAL CERTIFICATION IN 2025.

AARON EWING, WATKINS ELEMENTARY. JAMIE GARDNER, OLD HUNDRED ELEMENTARY.

ADRIAN HASKINS, OLD HUNDRED ELEMENTARY. CHELSEA JOYNER, CRESTWOOD ELEMENTARY.

SARAH MCCLELLAN, CRESTWOOD ELEMENTARY. CATHERINE SEARS, BURT HIGH SCHOOL.

AND CHRISTI SHARP, CLOVER HILL ELEMENTARY. AND SIX TEACHERS RENEWED THEIR CERTIFICATION IN 2025.

CRYSTAL BARKER, BURT HIGH SCHOOL. JODIE BOYD, TAYLOR MANCHESTER HIGH.

TERRY JEANS, WATKINS ELEMENTARY. GREGORY LYNNE-DECKER, MATOACA MIDDLE.

KAREN RICHARDSON, BURT HIGH SCHOOL. AND KIMBERLY ROYALL, DEEP CREEK MIDDLE.

PLEASE JOIN ME CONGRATULATING THESE NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHERS. [APPLAUSE].

[00:25:12]

BUT THIS PARTICULAR RECOGNITION TO ME IS ABOVE AND BEYOND.

ROUGHLY, IN THE UNITED STATES, THERE'S BETWEEN 4 AND 5 MILLION TEACHERS.

141,000 OF THEM HAVE ACHIEVED THE NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION.

YOU ARE AMONG 4%, THE TOP 4% OF THOSE TEACHERS.

THAT JUST BLOWS MY MIND, THAT ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE THAT YOU'VE DONE IN YOUR TEACHING, YOUR FAMILIES, EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT GOING ON IN LIFE, YOU DECIDED, YOU KNOW WHAT? I NEED TO UP MY GAME A LITTLE BIT MORE. THIS IS THE HIGHEST AWARD THAT YOU CAN GET AS A TEACHER, AND EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU REPRESENTS THE BEST OF CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

AND SO ON BEHALF OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, THANK YOU FOR NOT ONLY CONTINUING YOUR EDUCATION, BUT THEN ALSO COMING BACK TO THE CLASSROOM AND POURING THAT INTO OUR KIDS.

WE HAD A GREAT EXAMPLE TONIGHT OF REFLECTION.

AND THERE'S MANY OTHER THINGS THAT HAS TAUGHT.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE FRUIT OF YOUR LABOR THROUGH OUR KIDS AS THEY PROGRESS ON, THROUGH THE GRADE. SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE DO HAVE YOUR PIN AND JUST A SMALL GIFT FOR YOU ON YOUR WAY OUT, BUT IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SHARE ANYTHING ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY AND WHY THIS WAS IMPORTANT TO YOU? WE ALL KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

LIKE I WAS INTRODUCED, MY NAME IS KAREN RICHARDSON.

I'M AN ENGLISH TEACHER AT L.C. BIRD. I'M NOT GOING TO GET EMOTIONAL, BUT TERRY AND I HAD THE HONOR OF GOING THROUGH THE MEDIA COHORT WITH SEVERAL OF THE SCHOOL DIVISIONS IN THE RICHMOND AREA, AND THEN WE WERE APPROACHED BY CERTAIN SOMEBODY IN THE OFFICE OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ABOUT STARTING CHESTERFIELD'S OWN NATIONAL BOARD COHORT.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I AM INCREDIBLY PROUD OF.

AS SOMEONE WHO WENT THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND HAS HELPED TO CONTINUE TO SERVE AND TO TEACH OTHERS ABOUT THIS PROCESS.

I AM SO PROUD OF EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU. AS I'M PROUD OF.

I DIDN'T GO THROUGH THE COHORT WITH ALL OF YOU, BUT I'M ALSO VERY PROUD OF ALL OF YOU.

AWESOME. ANYONE ELSE? GOING ONCE? GOING TWICE? NO? WELL, LISTEN. AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

AND CAN WE PLEASE GIVE THEM ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE? [APPLAUSE]. CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS.

CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS.

GREAT JOB.

GREAT JOB. CONGRATULATIONS. ABSOLUTELY.

CONGRATULATIONS. YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.

NEXT UP, IF I ASK OUR SCHOOL COUNSELORS TO COME FORWARD THIS TIME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. FEBRUARY THE 2ND THROUGH THE 6TH WAS NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELING WEEK, AN ANNUAL RECOGNITION DESIGNED TO FOCUS PUBLIC ATTENTION ON THE CONTRIBUTION OF SCHOOL COUNSELORS WITHIN UNITED STATES SCHOOL SYSTEMS. AS CHESTER COUNTY CONTINUES TO GROW AND CHANGE, SO DO THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS AND SCHOOLS.

AS A RESULT, THE ROLE OF SCHOOL COUNSELOR HAS CHANGED.

TODAY, SCHOOL COUNSELORS HELP MEET THE WIDE RANGING ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, AND MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS.

[00:30:04]

OUTSTANDING FIRST YEAR COUNSELOR OF THE YEAR, HANNAH DOUGHTY OF MONACAN HIGH SCHOOL.

[APPLAUSE]. OUTSTANDING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL COUNSELOR OF THE YEAR, KRISTEN BAILEY HARDY OF FALLING CREEK ELEMENTARY. [APPLAUSE]. OUTSTANDING MIDDLE SCHOOL COUNSELOR OF THE YEAR, CHRISTOPHER JETER OF FALLING CREEK MIDDLE.

[APPLAUSE]. AND OUTSTANDING HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELOR OF THE YEAR, ANNATHAN LAX OF THOMASVILLE HIGH SCHOOL.

[APPLAUSE]. SO WE HAVE THE BEST OF THE BEST STANDING BEFORE US.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THE AMOUNT OF WORKLOAD THAT WE GIVE TO OUR SCHOOL COUNSELORS, YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING.

YOU MANAGE TO MAKE SAFE SPACES FOR CHILDREN TO FEEL SEEN AND HEARD.

YOU GIVE THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO BE THEIR AUTHENTIC SELVES.

YOU'RE GUIDING THEM, NOT PUSHING THEM. YOU'RE HELPING THEM CRITICALLY THINK FOR THEMSELVES TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS TO THEIR OWN PROBLEMS. AND IT'S AMAZING WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. AND WE KNOW WE HOPE THAT YOU DON'T THINK IT'S A THANKLESS JOB BECAUSE WE APPRECIATE YOU.

AND EVERY CHILD THAT WALKS INTO YOUR OFFICES APPRECIATES YOU AS WELL.

ME, PERSONALLY THANKFUL FOR SCHOOL COUNSELORS BECAUSE I HAVE TWO CHILDREN THAT COME TO YOUR OFFICES PROBABLY MORE THAN ANY OTHER CHILD.

AND I APPRECIATE THE COPING SKILLS THAT ARE BROUGHT HOME SO THAT I CAN HELP MY CHILD UNDERSTAND HOW TO DEAL WITH BIG EMOTIONS AND HOW WE HANDLE MEAN FRIENDS AND FUN FRIENDS, AND HOW IT ALWAYS CHANGES. AND I'M JUST GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING AND EVERYTHING YOU'RE POURING BACK INTO OUR CHILDREN AND THE AWKWARD TIME.

ARE YOU GOING TO TELL US WHAT YOUR FAVORITE THING IS ABOUT BEING A SCHOOL COUNSELOR? MY FAVORITE, NOW THAT IS HARD. THAT IS DIFFICULT.

I AM JUST REALLY THANKFUL TO WORK IN SUCH A WONDERFUL SCHOOL AT FALLING CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WITH A WONDERFUL STAFF AND AMAZING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. AND THANKFUL FOR MR. JOHNSON.

SINCE YOU BROUGHT UP DAISY, ESPECIALLY ALLOWING US TO BE, YOU KNOW, REALLY ONE OF THE FIRST ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO HAVE A THERAPY DOG AT SCHOOL.

AND SO DAISY REALLY HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL TOOL TO MY TOOLBOX AS I'M PROVIDING TOOLS FOR CHILDREN AS WELL.

SO I WOULD SAY BRINGING DAISY IN HAS DEFINITELY BEEN A HIGHLIGHT MOST RECENTLY.

I MEAN, I THINK WE WOULD ALL SAY WORKING WITH THE STUDENTS.

I MEAN, THAT'S WHY WE DO THIS JOB. THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS IS JUST THE COLLABORATION WITH OTHER EDUCATORS, OTHER PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS IN DOING THE SAME JOB, THE PARENTS.

REALLY JUST THE COLLABORATION. YOU LEARN SO MUCH FROM OTHER PEOPLE THAT YOU WORK WITH.

AND YOU LEARN SO MUCH FROM THE STUDENTS AND FROM THE PARENTS YOU WORK WITH. SO I THINK THAT'S BEEN MY FAVORITE THING.

FOR ME, I'M AT MONACAN HIGH SCHOOL. AND MONACAN PRIDES ITSELF IN ITS SENSE OF COMMUNITY, AND THAT HAS BEEN SO REAL FOR ME.

I FEEL SO GRATEFUL AND BLESSED BY MY TEAM AND MY ADMIN TEAM AND OUR TEACHERS.

SO I WOULD SAY THAT'S BEEN ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS OF THE JOB, BUT DEFINITELY THE STUDENTS.

THAT'S WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO. THANK YOU. I WANT TO START OFF ON A NOTE OF GRATITUDE.

THANK YOU, MR. WALLER. THANK YOU, AUDRA. THANK YOU, MISS WILLIFORD.

THANK YOU, MOM. FOR SURE. JUST ONE OF MY MOST FAVORITE PARTS ABOUT WORKING AT WALNUT CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL IS JUST THE ABILITY TO PUSH THE CULTURE FORWARD.

ONE OF THE MOST EMPOWERING PARTS OF MY JOB IS BEING ABLE TO HELP STUDENTS RESOLVE CONFLICT.

WE KNOW THAT RESTORATIVE CONVERSATIONS, RESTORATIVE CHATS REALLY WORK.

AND BEING ABLE TO HELP STUDENTS IN SOME OF THE MOST CHALLENGING MOMENTS REALLY BRINGS LIGHT TO MY DAY EVERY TIME I GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT.

SO I ALWAYS SAY RESTORATIVE CONVERSATIONS, THE PROACTIVE PIECE OF MAKING SURE THAT CONFLICT IS RESOLVED AND CHALLENGES ARE RESOLVED AMONGST STUDENTS. IT'S ALWAYS MY FAVORITE PART OF WORKING AT FALLING CREEK MIDDLE.

LET'S GIVE THESE AMAZING COUNSELORS ANOTHER HAND. [APPLAUSE]. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN.

I HAVE TWO AT MONACAN AS WELL, SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO THERE.

I GOT KIDS EVERYWHERE.

[00:35:15]

EACH YEAR, THE EMPLOYER ACCOMMODATION PROGRAM OF THE VIRGINIA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION PROVIDES SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THEIR EMPLOYERS FOR PROVIDING THE SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT THAT IS OFTEN NEEDED TO PERFORM SCHOOL BOARD DUTIES.

THEIR CONNECTION IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF PUBLIC EDUCATION, WHICH IS A CORNERSTONE OF OUR COMMUNITY. TONIGHT, WE RECOGNIZE VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY SUPPORTING INTERIM SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER DOCTOR JENNA DARBY, WHO REPRESENTS THE CLOVER HILL DISTRICT. HERE TO ACCEPT THE RECOGNITION IS DOCTOR THOMAS FARMER, CHAIR OF THE VCU DEPARTMENT OF FOUNDATIONS OF EDUCATION.

AS A RECENT GRADUATE FROM THE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AND ALSO AS AN EMPLOYEE AS AN ADJUNCT FACULTY FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS, VCU IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART, AND I AM SO THANKFUL FOR THE PARTNERSHIP THAT I HAVE SEEN, AS VCU PRODUCES INCREDIBLE TEACHERS, AND I HAVE FOUND SUCH GREAT JOY IN BEING A PART OF THAT PROGRAM OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

AND SO I AM SO THANKFUL THAT YOU, THROUGH MANY, MANY EMAILS, HAVE MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO SERVE MY COMMUNITY AND MY SCHOOLS HERE AND CONTINUE WORKING WITH VCU.

AND SO, DOCTOR FELDMAN, THANK YOU ALSO FOR BEING HERE.

WE ARE JOINED BY THE DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AS WELL.

AND SO I'M JUST THANKFUL FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE THROUGH ALLOWING ME THE FLEXIBILITY TO DO THIS ROLE AS WELL.

SO I'LL TURN IT TO YOU GUYS IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SHARE ABOUT THIS PARTNERSHIP.

THANKS, JENNA. I JUST WANT TO SAY FIRST THAT JEN IS A TRUE GEM.

AND REALLY HAVING HER AS PART OF OUR TEAM IS JUST CRITICAL FOR US THAT I THINK ALL OF YOU KNOW, THAT HAVING PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT THERE AND UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING DAY TO DAY AS PART OF THE INSTRUCTION TEAM IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US.

SO, JENNA, WE REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO. BUT I ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU, ALL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND FOR BEING A PARTNERSHIP WITH VCU, THAT WE REALLY DO FEEL LIKE WE'RE DOING OUR WORK THERE.

SO YOU CAN DO YOUR WORK HERE. YEAH. THANK YOU, TOM.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I'M KELLY FELDMAN, DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AT VCU.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WE ARE REALLY PROUD TO CALL DOCTOR JENNA DARBY, A GRADUATE OF OUR PROGRAMS. AND WE'RE ALSO HONORED TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT HER IN THIS SERVICE AND IN HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD.

AND SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. AND THEN I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR THAT WORK.

IT'S REALLY AN IMPORTANT ACT OF SERVICE TO PROVIDE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT FAMILIES AND STUDENTS, STAFF, TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS IN ALL OF THE SCHOOLS.

AND SO THANK YOU, DOCTOR DARBY. AND THANK ALL OF YOU.

[APPLAUSE].

IF I COULD ASK OUR FRIENDS FROM THE VIRGINIA CREDIT UNION TO COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME. PUBLIC EDUCATION IS THE FOUNDATION OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY, AND THE WORK OF CHESTER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TEACHERS AND STAFF MEMBERS STRENGTHENS OUR COMMUNITY. BUT OUR SCHOOL DIVISION DOES NOT OPERATE IN ISOLATION AS WE HELP OUR STUDENTS FIND PATHS TO SUCCESS.

OUR SCHOOLS ARE ROBUSTLY SUPPORTED BY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR SCHOOLS. TONIGHT, WE RECOGNIZE VIRGINIA CREDIT UNION AS A VALUED PARTNER OF CHESTER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

VAC PROVIDES SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR DIVISION WIDE PROGRAMS WHILE ADVANCING FINANCIAL LITERACY AND FINANCIAL WELLNESS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN THANKING THE VIRGINIA CREDIT UNION.

[APPLAUSE]. WHO WOULD LIKE THE HONOR OF HOLDING THAT UP? BUT BEFORE WE GET STARTED AND JUST RECOGNIZING YOUR PARTNERSHIP WITH US, IF WE COME AND VISIT, DO YOU GIVE OUT FREE SAMPLES? SHREDDED. SHREDDED?

[00:40:01]

EVERY PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE HELPS OUR STUDENTS EXCEL FORWARD AND HELPS THEM RECOGNIZE THE DIFFERENT AVENUES THAT THEY CAN TAKE IN LIFE.

BECAUSE SOMETIMES THOSE THINGS AREN'T ALWAYS DISCUSSED, RIGHT? WORKING AT A BANK OR WORKING IN A WAREHOUSE OR WORKING SOMEWHERE ELSE.

BUT BEING ABLE TO PARTNER WITH FOLKS LIKE YOU IS A GREAT ATTRIBUTE, IF YOU WILL, FOR OUR STUDENTS.

AND WE GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND DEDICATION TO CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY IT IS THAT YOU LIKE TO PARTNER WITH US.

WELL, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THIS HONOR. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP WITH CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND WE FOCUS AT VIRGINIA CREDIT UNION AND HELPING OUR MEMBERS IN THE COMMUNITY WITH THEIR FINANCES.

CHESTERFIELD HAS BEEN A GREAT PARTNER IN ALLOWING US TO PARTNER WITH THE TEACHERS COMING IN, TELKENG ABOUT CAREER PATHWAYS, PARTNERING WITH THE ECON AND PERSONAL FINANCE TEACHERS IN THAT TRACK, AND THEN JUST GENERAL SUPPORT OF JUST SHOWING UP WHERE WE ARE NEEDED.

SO WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO BE PART OF THIS WONDERFUL SCHOOL SYSTEM AND COMMUNITY.

AND WE DO HAVE SOME SWAG FOR YOU ON YOUR WAY OUT.

SO AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CAN WE GIVE THEM ONE MORE ROUND OF APPLAUSE? [APPLAUSE]. FOR OUR NEXT RECOGNITION, I'D LIKE TO INVITE CTE REPRESENTATIVES TO JOIN ME IN FRONT OF THE DAIS.

MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION? RECOGNIZING FEBRUARY 2026 AS CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION MONTH.

WHEREAS THE ASSOCIATION FOR CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION HAS DESIGNATED FEBRUARY 2026 AS CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION MONTH.

AND WHEREAS, CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS OFFERED CTE COURSES FOR OVER A CENTURY.

AND WHEREAS, CTE OFFERS PATHWAYS FOR STUDENTS TO PREPARE FOR CAREERS IN HIGH SKILL AND HIGH DEMAND CAREERS.

AND WHEREAS CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS OFFER STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE CAREERS IN ALL 14 CAREER CLUSTERS THROUGH 214 UNIQUE COURSES AND ALIGNED TO 69 CAREER PATHWAYS.

AND WHEREAS, DURING THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR, CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS CTE STUDENTS EARNED 9368 CAREER CREDENTIALS. AND WHEREAS, THE TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING EDUCATION PROGRAM AT MATOACA HIGH SCHOOL AND AGRICULTURE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AT CTC COURTHOUSE WERE RECOGNIZED WITH A CREATING EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR REGION ONE BY THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IN 2025. WHEREAS THE CTE WORK BASED LEARNING PROGRAM SUPPORTED 31,585 STUDENTS WITH A VARIETY OF WORK BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCES IN THE COMMUNITY DURING THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR.

AND WHEREAS, THE LANDSCAPE AND TURF MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AT THOMAS DALE HIGH SCHOOL WAS RECOGNIZED WITH THE NATIONAL FIELD OF THE YEAR BY THE SPORTS FIELD MANAGERS ASSOCIATION. AND WHEREAS CTE IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE SCHOOL DIVISION'S CURRICULUM.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CHESTERFIELD COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNIZES FEBRUARY 2026 AS CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION MONTH, ACKNOWLEDGES THE IMPORTANCE OF CTE AND THANKS THE HARD WORKING CTE TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS OF CHESTERFIELD COUNTY FOR THEIR WORK IN ENSURING THAT THE SCHOOL DIVISION CTE PROGRAMS REMAIN BEST IN CLASS.

[APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. BOARD MEMBERS, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AS PRESENTED? SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE HARD WORK THAT THIS RESOLUTION REPRESENTS.

9368 CAREER CREDENTIALS IS AN INCREDIBLE NUMBER TO CELEBRATE, AND THAT IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY THINGS LISTED HERE. I AM SO THANKFUL FOR THE WORK YOU DO TO EXPOSE OUR STUDENTS, FROM THE YOUNGEST TO THE OLDEST,

[00:45:02]

IT TAKES AN INCREDIBLE TEAM. AND SO I APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING HERE TONIGHT TO REPRESENT ALL THE WORK THAT GOES INTO SPEAKING WITH OUR STUDENTS EVERY SINGLE DAY AND ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES YOU PROVIDE FOR THEM. [APPLAUSE].

OKAY. THERE'S BEEN A MOTION AND A SECOND. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE MOTION.

ANN COKER. AYE. JENNIFER DARBY. AYE. DOMINIQUE CHATTERS.

AYE. STEVEN PARANTO. AYE. LISA HUDGINS. AYE. THE RESOLUTION HAS BEEN ADOPTED.

CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE]. WOULD ANY OF YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION IS SO SPECIAL FOR YOU? ON BEHALF OF ALL THE TEACHERS THAT TEACH CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION FOR CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, IT IS OUR HONOR TO BE RECOGNIZED TODAY AT THIS BOARD MEETING FOR OUR CTE MONTH.

WHAT WE DO IN ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS AND CONTENT AREA IS NOT NECESSARILY FOR OURSELVES, BUT IT'S FOR THE EMPOWERMENT OF TODAY'S YOUTH, FOR TOMORROW'S CAREER CHOICES. AND MY COLLEAGUES AND I THAT ARE STANDING BEFORE YOU REPRESENT ALL OF THE TEACHERS IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHO HAVE LENT ALL OF THEIR HARD WORK AND THEIR CAREER EXPERIENCES IN THEIR OWN RESPECTIVE FIELDS.

TO THE STUDENTS WHO ARE NOW EMPOWERED TO BE THE BEST VERSION OF THEMSELVES IN THEIR CAREER PATHS, THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE]. MEMO NUMBER 014-26. RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING DRIVER PERFORMANCE.

MISS JACQUELINE ROACH WILL PRESENT. THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.

THERE ARE MANY BUS DRIVERS WHO COULD BE RECOGNIZED THIS PAST MONTH, BUT EACH TRANSPORTATION AREA MANAGER HAD TO MAKE THE TOUGH DECISION OF SELECTING A SINGLE BUS DRIVER WHO EXEMPLIFIED EXCELLENCE AND DEDICATION TO REPRESENT THEIR AREA.

IT IS MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT OUR JANUARY 2026 DRIVERS OF THE MONTH THAT ARE BEING RECOGNIZED FOR OUTSTANDING DRIVER PERFORMANCE.

AREA 1. CAMERON RAIFORD, BUS 685. TWO MONTHS OF SERVICE.

THE AREA 1 TEAM BELIEVES CAMERON TRANSITIONED INTO THE ROLE OF BUS DRIVER SEAMLESSLY.

HE HAS CONSISTENTLY BEEN WILLING TO STEP IN WHEN NEEDED AND HAS ALSO ASSISTED WITH FIELD TRIPS FOR AREA 1.

CAMERON IS A STRONG ASSET TO THE TRANSPORTATION TEAM.

AREA 2. HAYSSAM NASAR, BUS 271. 11 MONTHS OF SERVICE.

HAYSSAM SAYS THAT HE LOVES THE STUDENTS AND GETS LOTS OF ENJOYMENT IN GETTING THEM TO AND FROM SCHOOL SAFELY.

HAYSSAM'S MANAGER SAYS HE IS EXTREMELY DEDICATED TO HIS JOB, HAS THE MOST AMAZING, POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND IS ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP REGARDLESS OF THE TASK. AREA 3. ANGEL SIMMONS, BUS 718. 1 YEAR, NINE MONTHS OF SERVICE.

STANDING IN FOR ANGEL IS THE AREA 1 ASSISTANT MANAGER, MICHELLE DOWDY.

ANGEL SAYS SHE ENJOYS BEING A BUS DRIVER BECAUSE SHE LIKES INTERACTING WITH THE KIDS AND SEEING THEIR SMILING FACES DAY AFTER DAY.

AREA 4. AARON BRIDGES, BUS 971. 4 YEARS OF SERVICE.

STANDING IN FOR AARON IS HER ASSISTANT MANAGER, ALEXIS JUGGER.

AARON SAYS SHE ENJOYS BEING A BUS DRIVER BECAUSE SHE FINDS JOY IN CONNECTING WITH THE KIDS.

SHE STATES THEIR SMILES AND GENUINE LAUGHTER ALWAYS BRIGHTENS HER DAY.

ALSO, THERE'S A SENSE OF CONTRIBUTING TO THE COMMUNITY BY BEING A POSITIVE ROLE MODEL FOR THE CHILDREN.

AREA 5. DIANA KING, BUS 819. 15 YEARS AND TWO MONTHS OF SERVICE.

DIANA SAYS SIMPLY PUT, SHE LOVES HER JOB AS A BUS DRIVER FOR CCPS.

THE BUS RIDE IS MORE THAN TRANSPORTATION. IT REPRESENTS CONSISTENCY, TRUST AND CARE.

SHE TAKES THAT TO HEART AND STRIVES TO MAKE THE MOST POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

SO LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. [APPLAUSE].

SO I SAY THIS EVERY TIME I GET TO GIVE A RECOGNITION TO THE BUS DRIVERS.

I APPRECIATE YOU KEEPING WHAT OUR CHILDREN SAY ABOUT US AND WHAT GOES ON TO YOURSELVES.

[00:50:06]

AND SECOND TO THE TEACHERS, I GET TOLD MY BUS DRIVER SAID THAT THIS IS HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO GO.

SO I WANT YOU TO FEEL RESPECTED AND APPRECIATED THAT YOUR NAME GETS BROUGHT INTO MY HOME ON TELLING ME HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE DONE.

SO MY BUS DRIVER DOESN'T DRIVE LIKE THAT. WHY ARE YOU DRIVING LIKE THAT? OKAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? SO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU GUYS ARE THE MODELS THAT MY CHILDREN ARE MODELING MY DRIVING BEHAVIOR AFTER.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT SAYS, BUT I AM GRATEFUL THAT ALL OF YOU ARE IN THIS PROFESSION.

I KNOW YOU'RE THE FIRST PERSON THEY SEE AND THE LAST PERSON THEY SEE. SO WHATEVER ENERGY LEVELS THEY COME ON THE BUS WITH AND WHATEVER ENERGY LEVELS THEY LEAVE WITH, IT'S THANKS TO YOU. SO I APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE AND THE LOVE THAT YOU'RE POURING INTO YOUR JOB.

I DO HAVE TO PASS THE MIC, BUT YOU CAN GIVE IT RIGHT BACK IF YOU WANT TO AND JUST TELL ME, YOU KNOW, THE BEST PART ABOUT BEING A BUS DRIVER? THE BEST PART ABOUT. WELL, I MEAN, EVERYBODY SAYS THE KIDS.

I LIKE MY SUMMERS OFF. I LIKE MY MIDDAYS OFF.

I LIKE DRIVING. I LIKE DRIVING A BIG VEHICLE.

I DROVE A BIG BUS FOR, LIKE, 14 YEARS. I JUST CAME TO SPED, AND I CAN HONESTLY SAY I LOVE MY SPED KIDS.

ALL THE KIDS? YOU KNOW I'M JUST KIDDING. BUT I LOVE MY SPED KIDS.

HERE. I DO WANT TO SHARE JUST ONE THING. APPRECIATION FOR ALL OF OUR BUS DRIVERS THIS PAST WEEK OUT ON THE ROADS.

BUT FEBRUARY IS ALSO LOVE THE BUS MONTH. SO IN TRANSPORTATION, WE ARE CELEBRATING OUR DRIVERS AND HOPEFULLY THEY SEE THE APPRECIATION THAT WE HAVE FOR THEM. DO YOU NEED ME TO HOLD IT? YEAH, I SEE YOU.

IT'S FINE. HEY, GUYS, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING.

I'M REALLY SO HAPPY. I'M SO GLAD I'M HERE BECAUSE IN THE MONTH, THIS MAKES ME GLAD.

AND I'M SO PROUD OF MYSELF. AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PEOPLE I WORK WITH.

[INAUDIBLE] OFFICE. THEY ARE REALLY AMAZING PEOPLE.

THEY'RE ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP ALL THE TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I WASN'T REALLY EXPECTING THIS THIS EARLY ON, SO I DO THANK YOU.

I DO LOVE SEEING THE KIDS EVERY DAY. I HAVEN'T MISSED A DAY SINCE I STARTED.

I DON'T PLAN ON IT AND I SIGN UP FOR EVERY FIELD TRIP I CAN.

I LOVE WHAT I DO. AND YEAH, I HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN.

[APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS.

AWESOME. GREAT JOB. CONGRATS. ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE HAVE RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING FOOD SERVICE EMPLOYEES WITH MR. BERKLEY DUNBROCH.

THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING. MADAM CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS, MR. ROBERTS, DOCTOR MURRAY, THANK YOU, AS ALWAYS, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF OUR OUTSTANDING FOOD NUTRITION SERVICES TEAM MEMBERS.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS TO DO IN VISITING CAFETERIAS IS TO GET FEEDBACK ON OUR OFFERINGS FROM THE STUDENTS.

THIS CAN SOMETIMES TURN INTO A DON'T ASK QUESTIONS, YOU'RE NOT READY FOR THE ANSWER TO EACH SITUATION. HOWEVER, FOR THE MOST PART, STUDENTS ARE VERY INFORMATIVE AND INSIGHTFUL ABOUT WHAT WE ARE SERVING AND WHAT THEY'D LIKE TO SEE US SERVE.

WHILE THIS IS CRUCIAL INFORMATION TO THE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF OUR PROGRAM, I TAKE ALMOST AS MUCH JOY IN HEARING THE NAMES OF THE STUDENTS ASSIGNED TO SOME OF OUR MENU ITEMS. SOME OF MY FAVORITES INCLUDE THE VARIOUS NAMES I'VE HEARD GIVEN FOR OUR PIZZA DIPPERS, INCLUDING PIZZA BREAD, PIZZA STICKS, PIZZA THINGS, AND THOSE THINGS THAT LOOK LIKE CHEESY BREAD FROM PIZZA HUT.

PICKLE CHICKEN, WHICH IS THE MONIKER MY NIECE AND HER THIRD GRADE CLASSMATES ASSIGNED TO ONE OF THEIR FAVORITE MENU OFFERINGS, WHICH I WAS ABLE TO DECIPHER WHERE OUR BREADED DILL TURKEY BITES.

AND THE RECENT RENAMING OF OUR CHEESEBURGER TO THE PLEASEBURGER BY ONE OF OUR BON AIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS.

WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE IN CCPS NOT ONLY TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF STUDENT FEEDBACK, BUT AN OUTSTANDING FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES TEAM THAT IS ABLE TO BRING THESE COMMENTS TO LIFE EVERY SINGLE DAY. SO BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO JOIN IN DECEMBER, I'M GOING TO TRY TO CATCH UP WITH OUR DECEMBER AND OUR FEBRUARY HONOREES THIS EVENING.

HOWEVER, TWO WERE UNABLE TO JOIN US THIS EVENING. FIRST WAS ASHLEY ANDERSON.

MISS ANDERSON IS OUR CAFETERIA MANAGER AT MEADOWBROOK HIGH SCHOOL, AND SHE'S BEEN WITH US FOR TEN YEARS. HER NOMINATION INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING.

ASHLEY IS SOMEONE THAT MAKES YOU FEEL WELCOME TO COME ASK QUESTIONS AND MAKES ALL OF HER STAFF FEEL APPRECIATED.

SHE'S NOT ONE TO WATCH ANYONE STRUGGLE. SHE'LL BE THERE TO ROLL UP HER SLEEVES AND JUMP IN TO LEND A HAND ANYTIME.

ASHLEY SAYS I'M PROUD TO SERVE OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY.

WHAT I LOVE MOST IS BEING HERE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND WORKING WITH A TEAM THAT FEELS LIKE FAMILY.

[00:55:03]

ALSO UNABLE TO JOIN US THIS EVENING WAS TERRY BENNETT. MISS BENNETT IS OUR CAFETERIA MANAGER, MATOACA HIGH SCHOOL, AND SHE'S BEEN WITH US FOR SIX YEARS.

HER NOMINATION INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING. TERRY IS A GREAT LEADER. SHE'S PATIENT, KIND, CARING, AND ALWAYS GOES OUT OF HER WAY TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS TAKEN CARE OF. SHE SAYS, I'VE ALWAYS WORKED IN THE FOOD SERVICE INDUSTRY, SERVING OR COOKING FOR THE PUBLIC. I KNOW THERE ARE CHILDREN OUT THERE WHO DO NOT GET ENOUGH FOOD OR EVEN GET A DECENT MEAL ON SOME DAYS, AND IT'S VERY SAD. MY HOPE IS THAT IF I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR JUST ONE CHILD NOT BEING HUNGRY, MY HEART WILL BE FULL. NEXT WE HAVE AMAL SALAM.

MISS SALAM IS A FOOD SERVICE ASSOCIATE AT WINTERPOCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND SHE'S BEEN WITH US FOR FOUR YEARS.

HER NOMINATION INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING. AMAL ALWAYS TAKES AN EXTRA MOMENT TO HELP THE STUDENTS AND TALK WITH THEM.

DURING NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH WEEK, SHE TALKED TO THE STUDENTS ABOUT THE VARIOUS FLAGS THAT WE HAD DISPLAYED WHERE THAT COUNTRY WAS LOCATED.

THE STUDENTS REALLY ENJOYED THE GAME OF TRYING TO GUESS THE FLAGS.

AMAL SAYS I TRULY ENJOY MY JOB, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I GET TO WORK IN AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHERE I CAN SHARE MY PASSION FOR FOOD AND NUTRITION WITH YOUNG STUDENTS.

IT'S INCREDIBLY REWARDING TO HELP THEM DEVELOP HEALTHY EATING HABITS FROM AN EARLY AGE AND SEE THEIR CURIOSITY AND EXCITEMENT GROW.

AND FINALLY, WE HAVE PAMELA ASMAR. MISS ASMAR IS A FOOD SERVICE ASSOCIATE AT J.G.

HENING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND SHE'S BEEN WITH US FOR 43 YEARS.

HER NOMINATION INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING. PAMELA IS A HARD WORKING PERSON.

SHE WORKS WELL ON A TEAM AND SHE NEVER REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING SHE'S ASKED TO DO.

SHE USES ANY AVAILABLE TIME TO CLEAN OR HELP WITH WHATEVER IS NEEDED TO BE DONE FOR THE DAY OR THE FOLLOWING DAY.

MISS OSMORE SAYS, I'VE BEEN WORKING HERE FOR ALMOST 44 YEARS AND AT THE SAME TIME MAKING GOOD FRIENDS.

EVERY YEAR I SAY, THIS IS THE LAST YEAR, BUT I CONTINUE TO SIGN THE CONTRACT FOR THE NEXT YEAR BECAUSE I LOVE WHAT I DO.

I LOVE IT. THANK YOU ALL. [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR YOUR SCHOOLS AND PROVIDING HEALTHY LUNCHES FOR OUR STUDENTS.

LUNCH IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HEAR ABOUT WHEN MY 15 YEAR OLD STILL COMES HOME FROM SCHOOL, AND HE LIKES TO TELL ME WHAT HE HAD FOR LUNCH.

SO YOU ARE FEEDING AND KEEPING THEIR BELLIES FULL, WHICH IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IF YOU ARE HUNGRY, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO LEARN. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.

YOU ARE DEFINITELY APPRECIATED AND RESPECTED IN YOUR PROFESSION.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR 40 ALMOST 44 YEARS.

YEAH, I'LL PASS THEM ON. AWESOME.

AGAIN, I'M NOT DONE YET. I LOVE MY KIDS. I LOVE MY JOB.

SO I'M STICKING AROUND FOR A WHILE, AND YOU GOTTA PUT UP WITH ME, MISTER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I SO APPRECIATE THIS THING.

YEAH. AND I ENJOY MY WORK. REALLY ENJOY LIKE TO FEED THE KIDS AND KEEP EVERYTHING CLEAN AND BE SURE LIKE, WE GIVE THEM, LIKE, GOOD STUFF. YEAH. [APPLAUSE].

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS.

THE PUBLIC SERVICE OF MORE THAN 800 SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ACROSS VIRGINIA IS CELEBRATED THROUGHOUT FEBRUARY AS A PART OF VIRGINIA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION'S ANNUAL SCHOOL BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH. CHESTER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS JOINS SCHOOL DIVISIONS ACROSS VIRGINIA, THANKING OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WHO CONTRIBUTE HUNDREDS OF HOURS, MAYBE THOUSANDS OF HOURS EACH YEAR LEADING OUR SCHOOL DIVISION.

WE RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THESE CHESTER COUNTY LEADERS.

CHAIR LISA HUDGINS OF THE MIDLOTHIAN DISTRICT.

VICE CHAIR STEVEN PARANTO, MATOACA DISTRICT. ANN COKER, BERMUDA DISTRICT.

DOCTOR JENNA DARBY, CLOVERHILL DISTRICT INTERIM.

DOMINIQUE CHATTERS, DALE DISTRICT. IN ADDITION, THE VIRGINIA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION DESIGNATES THE THIRD WEEK IN FEBRUARY AS VSBA SCHOOL BOARD APPRECIATION WEEK, WITH THE GOAL OF BUILDING AWARENESS OF THE ROLE THE SCHOOL PLAYS IN HELPING SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENTS, AND SCHOOLS. WE RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE SERVICE OF CHESTER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT AND CLERK OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, ELKE NAMOLA. DOCTOR MURRAY. [APPLAUSE]. I THINK STEVE'S GOING TO GIVE HER HER FLOWERS HERE IN A SECOND. TO KICK OFF, I WANT TO GIVE YOU ALL YOUR FLOWERS.

SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS KEEPING OUR STUDENTS AT THE HEART OF YOUR LEADERSHIP.

[01:00:03]

I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOUR RESPECTIVE FAMILIES FOR THE SACRIFICE OF THEIR TIME AWAY FROM YOU, AS EACH OF YOU ATTEND COUNTLESS MEETINGS AND EVENTS EACH AND EVERY MONTH.

I APPRECIATE AND I KNOW OUR COMMUNITY DOES AS WELL.

ALL THAT YOU DO TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS, OUR EMPLOYEES, OUR FAMILIES, AND OUR SCHOOLS BECAUSE YOUR WORK IS VITAL TO THE CONTINUING SUCCESS OF THIS WONDERFUL SCHOOL DIVISION AND TO THE GREATER CHESTERFIELD COUNTY COMMUNITY.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. AND I KNOW I GAVE YOU A GIFT ALREADY, BUT I HAVE AN ADDITIONAL ONE AS WELL.

SO IF I MAY, I'M GOING TO APPROACH AND GIVE THAT TO YOU NOW.

[APPLAUSE].

IN RETROSPECT, WE SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS IN THE BEGINNING SO THAT THE FOLKS THAT WERE HERE COULD HEAR JUST HOW GREAT YOU ARE.

YOU HAVE HELD OUR SCHEDULES TOGETHER. YOU HAVE KEPT US IN LINE, SO MANY REMINDERS AND TEXTS AND PHONE CALLS AND HELPING US OUT JUST BEHIND THE SCENES WITH THINGS AT FIRST THAT WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WE NEEDED.

BUT YOU WERE THERE. YOU WERE VERY COMFORTING AND REASSURING AND HELPFUL.

SO WHEN IT COMES TO SCHOOL BOARD CLERKS, PEOPLE MIGHT THINK IT'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE ROLE.

AND IT IS, BUT IT IS A PEOPLE PERSON ROLE. AND YOU DEFINE THAT SO VERY WELL.

AND I GREATLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR OUR SCHOOL BOARD.

SO BEFORE I HAND IT OVER TO YOU, I'M GOING TO PULL A LITTLE FAST ONE, IF THAT'S OKAY.

BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT ELKE? OH, YEAH, WE CAN DO THAT. OH MY GOODNESS, SO MANY WONDERFUL THINGS I COULD SAY ABOUT ELKE.

I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH YOU FOR SEVEN YEARS.

THIS IS MY SEVENTH YEAR. AND I JUST THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.

YOU ARE ALWAYS ON TOP OF IT. YOU SEND A LITTLE VERY FRIENDLY REMINDERS WHEN WE HAVEN'T RESPONDED TO AN EVENT OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE. AND YOU'RE JUST A GOOD FRIEND.

YOU'RE A GOOD FRIEND AND A GOOD PERSON, SO THANK YOU, ELKE, FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.

SO, ELKE, WHENEVER I DESCRIBE YOU, I SAY THAT YOU ARE THIS PERFECT MIX OF.

IT'S VERY UNUSUAL. YOU'RE A UNICORN, INCREDIBLY ON THE BALL WITH.

AND DON'T TELL YOUR HUSBAND THAT. YOU'RE ON THE BALL WITH BEING, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST GOING TO POP THIS TO THE TOP OF YOUR EMAIL BOX.

OKAY, ELKE. YOU'VE GOT US OUR CALENDARS UNDER CONTROL.

YOU ONE TIME TOLD ME I HAD A DENTIST APPOINTMENT, AND, YOU KNOW, SO YOU'VE GOT THIS OVER HERE.

YOU'RE ON THE BALL. YOU ALSO ARE A LOVELY HUMAN BEING.

AND SO WHENEVER YOU. I FEEL LIKE, OH, THIS IS TOO MUCH FOR ME TO ASK.

YOU'RE LIKE, NO, NO, NO, IT IS MY PLEASURE. THAT COMBINATION IS RARE.

AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR YOU. I COULD GO ON, BUT NOW'S NOT THE TIME.

I LOVE YOU, I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOU, AND YOU ARE WONDERFUL TO WORK WITH.

WHEN I FIRST TOOK ON THIS ROLE, I HEARD IT DESCRIBED AS DRINKING FROM A FIRE HYDRANT.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAVE MADE THAT NOT FEEL THAT WAY, AND YOU HAVE TAKEN IT IN STRIDE WITH ME AND HELPED ME CATCH UP TO SPEED

[01:05:09]

AND I JUST AM SO GRATEFUL FOR YOU. WELL, I WILL SAY THE COMBINATION OF WHAT OUR CHAIR SAID, BEING A SPECIAL PERSON IS LIKE THE TOP OF THE LIST OF ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU ARE.

BUT THE FACT THAT YOU CAN MANAGE THE CHAOS THAT IS FIVE CALENDARS.

AND THEN WITH ME, LIKE SHE REMINDS ME OF MY CHILDREN'S EVENTS, RIGHT? BECAUSE IT'S ON MY CALENDAR. IT'S LIKE, NO, YOU CAN'T DO IT AT THAT TIME, DOMINIQUE. BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE TRACK MEET.

I'M LIKE, OH YES, WELL, THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.

AND SO I APPRECIATE YOU LOOKING OUT FOR ME AND MY FAMILY.

SO CONSIDERATE OF OUR TIME. LIKE, YOU ARE SO PROTECTIVE OF ALL OF US, I FEEL LIKE.

TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT OVERLOADED. AND WE APPRECIATE YOU BEYOND MEASURE.

EVEN WHEN YOU WERE GOING THROUGH YOUR OWN PERSONAL THINGS, YOU STILL MADE TIME TO TAKE CARE OF US WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF YOU.

SO I AM GRATEFUL FOR YOUR HEART AND FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE POURED IN TO ALL OF US.

THANK YOU. ON BEHALF OF THE CHESTERFIELD COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD AND THE VSBA, IT IS MY HONOR TO PRESENT TO YOU THE 2026 VSBA SCHOOL BOARD CLERK APPRECIATION WEEK PRESENTED TO ELKE NAMOLA. THANK YOU.

ABSOLUTELY. [APPLAUSE]. NOW, AS CUSTOMARY, WE'RE GOING TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT LIKE WE DO EVERYBODY ELSE.

IS THERE ANYTHING IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE? I JUST WANT TO THANK THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR THIS RECOGNITION AND FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

ESPECIALLY OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. THE HARDEST TIME OF MY LIFE.

BUT ALWAYS HAVE YOUR BACKS. AND WITH REMINDERS.

AND I'VE NEVER FELT SO APPRECIATED BY A BOARD BEFORE.

AND SO JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONFIDENCE IN ME AND YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.

AND YOU ALL TRULY HAVE THE DEDICATION AT HEART YOURSELVES AND THE BEST INTEREST OF STUDENTS, STAFF AND THE COMMUNITY. SO IT'S A PLEASURE AND AN HONOR TO SERVE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.

SO THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE].

OKAY. THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF TONIGHT'S HONOREES.

NEXT WE HAVE. YOU CAN WALK. I'LL TALK SLOWLY.

NEXT, WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT. FOR THIS MEETING, CITIZENS WERE GIVEN THE OPTION OF SUBMITTING THEIR COMMENTS ONLINE OR IN

[F. Public Comment]

IN-PERSON COMMENTS WILL BE SUMMARIZED BY THE BOARD CLERK AND INCLUDED IN THE OFFICIAL MEETING MINUTES.

DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED ALONG WITH IN-PERSON COMMENTS WILL, UPON REQUEST, BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE BOARD BUT NOT INCLUDED AS PART OF THE OFFICIAL BOARD MINUTES. MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU WOULD YOU PLEASE ANNOUNCE THIS EVENING'S IN-PERSON SPEAKER? YES. MADAM CHAIR, WE HAVE FIVE SPEAKERS THIS EVENING.

THEY ARE MICHAEL MATA, JOE MALTEMPE, ROB HIMMEL, JACOB NEAL HILT, AND WENDY LITTLE.

EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE FOUR MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD. THERE'S A TIMER SET UP ON TOP OF THE PODIUM THAT WILL TURN GREEN WHEN YOU BEGIN SPEAKING.

YELLOW WHEN YOU HAVE 30S REMAINING. AND RED WHEN YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

AS A REMINDER, NO PERSONAL BELONGINGS OTHER THAN A CELL PHONE AND SPEAKER NOTES ARE ALLOWED AT THE PODIUM.

PLEASE HAVE YOUR MATERIALS ORGANIZED IN A MANNER THAT, AS YOU ARRIVE AT THE PODIUM, YOU ARE PREPARED TO START SPEAKING.

PLEASE NOTE THAT COMMENTS EQUIVALENT TO CAMPAIGNING FOR ANY PUBLIC OFFICE ARE IN VIOLATION OF SCHOOL BOARD POLICY 1110 AND ARE PROHIBITED.

MAY WE HAVE MICHAEL MATA? JOE MALTEMPE? HELLO, BOARD. NICE TO TALK WITH YOU ALL AGAIN.

MY NAME IS JOE MALTEMPE. I'M FROM DALE DISTRICT.

THOMAS DALE GRADUATE IN 2005. AND GOT SOME DIFFERENT THINGS TONIGHT THAN YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN EXPECTING, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT CHANGE FOR OUR COUNTY.

SO THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE AND SPOKE YOU PRAISED A KID WHO WAS CONCERNED AND SPOKE REALLY ELOQUENTLY ABOUT HIS SAFETY IN HIS SCHOOL.

AND THERE WAS ALSO PARENTS THAT WERE HERE TO BEG TO PUT METAL DETECTORS IN AT THEIR KIDS SCHOOLS.

AND OVER THE OTHER TIMES I'VE BEEN HERE, THERE'S BEEN PEOPLE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT BOMB THREATS GOING ON AT SCHOOLS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

ALL THESE REQUESTS ARE REACTIONARY TO THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AT SCHOOLS IN RESPONSE TO EVENTS,

[01:10:05]

I WORK IN CONSTRUCTION AND IN CONSTRUCTION, ONE OF THE PRIORITIES IS SAFE WORK.

IN SAFETY, THEY'RE BOTH LEADING AND LAGGING INDICATORS.

AND LEADING INDICATORS INCLUDE TRAINING PEOPLE HOW TO WORK THE RIGHT WAY AND USE THE TOOLS AND OPERATE THE EQUIPMENT BEFORE THEY ARE ASKED TO DO THE WORK.

AN EXAMPLE OF THIS WOULD BE IN SCHOOL WOULD BE TEACHING KIDS NOT TO LIE OR CHEAT OR TO MURDER.

THAT WOULD BE A PROMINENT THING THAT WOULD HELP WITH THAT.

LAGGING INDICATORS ARE RESPONSES TO INCORRECT ACTIONS, LIKE NEAR MISSES, LIKE ALMOST ACCIDENTS INCIDENTS THAT ARE ACTUALLY LIKE FIRST AID CASES, THINGS LIKE THAT. AND OTHER ACCIDENTS WHERE ACTUAL WORK INJURIES THAT ARE VERY SERIOUS.

IN SCHOOLS, RESPONSES TO BAD ACTIONS ARE OUR METAL DETECTORS TO KEEP GUNS AND KNIVES OUT OF SCHOOL, RESOURCE OFFICERS TO PROVIDE A QUICK RESPONSE WHEN NEEDED.

OR CAMERAS IN THE CLASSROOMS BECAUSE KIDS ARE BECOMING UNRULY, SOMETIMES IN THE CLASSROOMS. AND THERE'LL BE NO END IN SIGHT IF THESE SOLUTIONS JUST CONTINUE TO HAVE MORE AND MORE SOLUTIONS FOR MORE AND MORE PROBLEMS, AND THEY'LL BECOME MORE AND MORE LAVISH TOO UNLESS WE START CORRECTING WITH RIGHT TRAINING. THERE NEEDS TO BE A FUNDAMENTAL WORLDVIEW SHIFT IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, A SHIFT THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE WHERE IT VIEWS ALL POLICIES AND ACTIONS AS RELIGIOUS.

BUT WHICH RELIGION IS THE QUESTION? ATHEISTS, LGBTQ, ISLAMISTS OR CHRISTIAN? FROM THE BEGINNING OF OUR COUNTRY, ALMOST 250 YEARS NOW, WE WERE FOUNDED AS A CHRISTIAN NATION.

SAMUEL CHASE, ONE OF THE LESSER KNOWN DECLARATION SIGNERS, A US SUPREME COURT JUSTICE, GAVE THE FOLLOWING OPINION IN RUNKEL VERSUS WINEMILLER IN 1799. RELIGION IS OF PUBLIC AND GENERAL CONCERN, AND ON ITS SUPPORT DEPEND IN GREAT MEASURE THE PEACE AND GOOD ORDER OF GOVERNMENT, THE SAFETY AND HAPPINESS OF THE PEOPLE. BY OUR FORM OF GOVERNMENT, THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION IS ESTABLISHED, AND ALL SECTS AND DOMINATIONS OF CHRISTIANS ARE PLACED UPON THE SAME EQUAL FOOTING AND ARE EQUALLY ENTITLED TO PROTECTION IN THEIR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.

OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS OR SO, THE MORALS OF CHRISTIANITY WERE SLOWLY REMOVED FROM PUBLIC, INCLUDING PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

AS THAT HAPPENED, VIOLENCE, CRIME, MISBEHAVIOR AND OTHER SOCIAL DISORDERS ROSE.

ATHEISM GOT PRAYER, THE BIBLE, AND THE TEN COMMANDMENTS REMOVED FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

LET'S PULL THE THREAD OF THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT IN THE BIBLE.

IF YOU LOOKING THROUGH CHRISTIANITY SO THAT EIGHTH COMMANDMENT IS THOU SHALT NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS OR LIE.

IN THE EARLY 2000S, ISLAMIC THOUGHT BEGAN TO COME IN AT THE TIME OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER BOMBINGS.

THE QURAN STATES THAT MUSLIMS CAN LIE TO INFIDELS.

THAT WOULD BE ALL OF US THAT ARE NOT MUSLIMS, IF IT WILL FURTHER THE SPREAD OF ISLAM.

THE DOCTRINE SPECIFICALLY IS CALLED TAQIYYA IN ISLAM IS EERILY SIMILAR TO OTHER SOCIAL CONTAGION IN THE US.

FURTHER PULLING THAT THREAD, THE LGBTQ TELL UNTRUTHS THAT MARRIAGE ISN'T JUST BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN AND THAT MEN CAN BECOME WOMEN AND WOMEN CAN BECOME MEN.

MORE LIES AND FALSE WITNESS. THE LGBTQ TEACHERS AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS I PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED HAVE BECOME THE LGBTQ PRIEST AND LIED TO THEIR OWN CHILDREN AND STUDENTS ABOUT SEXUAL HELLO, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS. MY NAME IS ROB HIMMEL AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHESTERFIELD EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

IT'S BEEN AN EVENTFUL MONTH IN CHESTERFIELD. I KNOW WE'RE ALL HAPPY THAT OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR OFFICES ARE OPEN AND RUNNING AGAIN.

AND PERSONALLY, I'M VERY HAPPY THAT THE TEMPERATURE ROSE ABOVE FREEZING TODAY BECAUSE I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO BATHE MY DOG.

THE DOG WASN'T TOO HAPPY ABOUT IT, BUT WE'LL ALL BE ABLE TO ENJOY HER COMPANY A LOT MORE.

CEA HAS BEEN BUSY SINCE WE LAST SPOKE. OUR INCENTIVE PROGRAM FOR BOARD MEMBERS AND BUILDING REPS IS OFFICIALLY STARTED.

THE EXECUTIVE BOARD IS FILLING UP AND OUR REPS ARE CONNECTING WITH MEMBERS AND SUPPORTING THEM. I SPENT THREE WEEKS IN JANUARY VISITING SCHOOLS ACROSS THE DISTRICT AND TELKENG WITH FOLKS. WE HEARD THAT A LOT OF OUR STAFF ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.

WE TALKED TO NOT ONLY TEACHERS, BUT NUTRITION STAFF, FRONT OFFICE ADMINISTRATORS, DAY PORTERS, AND BUS DRIVERS, AND WE WANT TO HEAR FROM EVEN MORE OF OUR STAFF.

WE ARE PLANNING A SERIES OF LISTENING SESSIONS WITH TEACHERS, SUPPORT STAFF, CENTRAL OFFICE WORKERS AND ADMINISTRATORS, AND WE INVITE ALL STAFF MEMBERS TO GET IN TOUCH WITH US AND MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD.

OUR LAST CPR CLASS, SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 29TH, GOT POSTPONED.

WE WILL TRY AGAIN NEXT WEEK ON FEBRUARY 12TH.

SPOTS ARE STILL OPEN. MANY OF OUR MEMBERS HAVE EXPRESSED SATISFACTION WITH THE COMPENSATION PACKAGE AND THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

[01:15:05]

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS FOR RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR EDUCATORS. OUR SUPPORT STAFF DESERVES THAT COMPETITIVE RAISE JUST AS MUCH AS THE TEACHERS AND OUR BUILDINGS DON'T OPEN WITHOUT THE FRONT OFFICE, NUTRITION, TRANSPORTATION AND CUSTODIAL STAFF.

WE HOPE THAT WE ARE OFFERING PACKAGES TO HELP US RETAIN THE BEST STAFF IN THOSE POSITIONS.

I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR GOVERNMENT RELATIONS TEAM AT THE VIRGINIA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION TO LOBBY THE VIRGINIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO INCREASE OUR FUNDING.

I TESTIFIED BEFORE THE ASSEMBLY ON JANUARY 7TH ABOUT THE NEED FOR CONTINUED AND EXPANDED INCENTIVES TO STAFF OUR POSITIONS IN HIGH NEED AREAS, AND I WILL BE SPEAKING WITH LAWMAKERS ABOUT THIS TOPIC AGAIN ON FEBRUARY 16TH.

IF ANY OF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS LEGISLATION BEFORE THE ASSEMBLY AND HOW WE MIGHT WORK TOGETHER TO GET IT PASSED, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH. WHEW! FINALLY, SEVERAL OF OUR MEMBERS HAVE REACHED OUT TO US WITH CONCERNS ABOUT IMMIGRATION ACTIVITY IN CHESTERFIELD.

EVERY TIME I'VE SPOKEN TO OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND OUR ADMINISTRATION ON THIS ISSUE, YOU HAVE ALL RESPONDED WITH EMPATHY FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND CLEARLY DELINEATED POLICY.

YOU'VE TOLD ME ALL THE RIGHT THINGS AND ASSURED ME THAT CSPS WILL ALWAYS PROTECT OUR STUDENTS.

HOWEVER, MANY OF OUR STAFF ARE NOT RECEIVING THAT MESSAGE.

WE HEAR MANY QUESTIONS ALONG THE LINES OF, WELL, WHAT IF THIS HAPPENS? WHAT IF THAT HAPPENS? SOMETHING HAPPENS AT THE BUS STOP OR IN THE PARKING LOT. IN A CRISIS, IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO KNOW HOW TO RESPOND.

SO WE'D LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT CSPS MAKE SOME QUICK REFERENCE MATERIALS AVAILABLE TO THE STAFF, MAYBE PRINTABLE FILES OR NOTE CARDS, SOMETHING WITH A FLOWCHART OR AN OUTLINE THAT CLEARLY EXPLAINS WHICH CSPS POLICIES TO FOLLOW IF ONE IS DEALING WITH IMMIGRATION OR LAW ENFORCEMENT. I THINK IN THIS SITUATION THAT A LITTLE EXTRA BIT OF PREPARATION WOULD GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS ASSUAGING THE FEARS OF OUR STAFF AND COMMUNITY.

ADOPTING NEA SAFE SCHOOLS RESOLUTION, OR THE SEVEN POINT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE NATIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS, WOULD BE ANOTHER WAY TO PUBLICLY DEMONSTRATE THE SUPPORTS THAT WE'RE USING IN OUR SCHOOLS.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT OUR AMAZING CHESTERFIELD COUNTY SCHOOLS.

THANK YOU, MR. HIMMEL. MAY WE HAVE JACOB NEAL HEALT? HELLO, MY NAME IS JACOB NEAL HELT. MY PRONOUNS ARE THEY THEM.

THIS IS MY SON, ROSARIO. HE'S A KINDERGARTNER AT HARROWGATE ELEMENTARY.

HE WANTED TO START OFF TODAY, SO I'M GOING TO LIFT HIM UP TO THE MIC REAL QUICK. SAY HI.

HI. HI. OKAY. SO I AM A MEMBER OF THE MATOACA DISTRICT. AS I SAID, MY SON GOES TO HARROWGATE ELEMENTARY.

I'M ALSO AN EDUCATOR IN RICHMOND PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

AND I'M USING THAT EXPERIENCE AS I SPEAK TODAY AS A MEMBER OF THE MATOACA COMMUNITY.

I AM HERE WITH MY FAMILY TO ASK THAT CHESTERFIELD ADOPT THE NEA'S SAFE SCHOOLS RESOLUTIONS.

IN PASSING THIS RESOLUTION, YOU WILL BE PROVING THAT CHESTERFIELD COUNTY SCHOOLS CARES ABOUT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.

ADDITIONALLY, I HOPE THAT THIS SCHOOL BOARD PRIORITIZES EDUCATING OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND STAFF MEMBERS OF OUR RIGHTS AND HELPING US FURTHER ENSURE OUR STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES ARE SAFE.

I THINK JUST TO REITERATE WHAT MR. HAMMEL SAID BECAUSE IT'S ALSO HAPPENING IN RICHMOND, ONE OF THE PRIORITIES AS A STAFF MEMBER IS UNDERSTANDING WHAT PROTOCOL IS. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE IN CHESTERFIELD PROCESS IN PLACE TO EDUCATE OUR STAFF MEMBERS AND OUR FAMILIES ABOUT WHAT THE PROCESS IS, BUT ALSO BE PREPARED FOR TO PREPARE OUR STAFF AND FAMILIES FOR CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY EASILY EXPECTABLE.

I KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE FACE IS FEARS OF GOING ON FIELD TRIPS WITH OUR OUR, OUR IMMIGRANT STUDENTS AND THE FEARS OF AS STAFF MEMBERS. ALTHOUGH OUR LEADERSHIP IS TRAINED, NOT ALL STAFF IS TRAINED, AND THAT'S NOT ALWAYS CONSIDERED OF WHEN LEADERSHIP IS NOT AVAILABLE.

[01:20:02]

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

SAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU. BYE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. NEIL HILT, MAY WE HAVE WENDY LITTLE? MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES THIS EVENING'S PUBLIC COMMENT.

THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. NEXT, WE HAVE THIS EVENING SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT FROM DOCTOR MURRAY.

[G. Superintendent's Report]

I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU A GREAT HIGHLIGHT. AT CHALKELY ELEMENTARY, STUDENTS WHO ARE POSITIVE ROLE MODELS GET CELEBRATED BY THEIR FELLOW STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND COMMUNITY WITH AN INSPIRING PARADE FOR THE EXAMPLE THEY SET FOR THEIR SCHOOL.

THIS IS A GOOD ONE TO WATCH. ENJOY.

SO TODAY IS MONDAY OF OUR RACER WEEK. EVERY QUARTER WE HAVE RACER WEEK, WHICH WE HIGHLIGHT CHARACTER TRAITS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO INSTILL IN OUR KIDS.

WE ARE ROADRUNNERS, BUT ROADRUNNERS ARE LONG WORD, SO WE USE RACER FOR OUR PBIS RESPECTFUL, ACCOUNTABLE, CARING, ENGAGED AND RESPONSIBLE.

AND TODAY WE CELEBRATE OUR STUDENTS WHO EMBODY THOSE CHARACTERISTICS ON A DAILY BASIS.

OUR TEACHERS EACH SELECT ONE STUDENT FROM THEIR CLASS AND WE CELEBRATE THEM BY HAVING A PARADE.

OUR KIDS COME OUT IN THE HALLWAY, WE CLAP FOR THEM AND WE WE LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THOSE KIDS WHO ARE ALWAYS DOING THE RIGHT THING AND SHOWING THOSE THOSE CHALKELY STANDARDS.

AND WE END IN THE CAFETERIA WHERE WE'VE INVITED PARENTS TO COME AND CELEBRATE WITH US, AND WE CAN THANK THEM AS WELL.

SO AS A SCHOOL, OF COURSE, OUR FOCUS IS INSTRUCTION AND STUDENT LEARNING.

WE WANT OUR KIDS TO BE LEADERS. WE WANT OUR KIDS TO HAVE CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS, AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WHAT WE DO.

BUT WE ALSO REALLY TAKE TO HEART OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO TEACH OUR KIDS HOW TO BE GOOD PEOPLE AND TO BE CONTRIBUTING CITIZENS IN THE WORLD.

AND SO WE'VE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT OUR STUDENTS WHO SHOW THOSE STANDARDS ON A REGULAR BASIS AND HOLD THEM UP AS ROLE MODELS FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.

OUR RACER AWARD WINNERS ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PARADE.

THEY WALK THROUGH THE ENTIRE SCHOOL, SO EVERYBODY'S CHEERING FOR THEM, CLAPPING FOR THEM, AND THEN THEY END IN THAT IN THE CAFETERIA, AS I SAID BEFORE, AND THEIR PARENTS ARE THERE TO CELEBRATE WITH THEM. THEY COME UP THERE, CALLED UP, AND THEY RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE.

THEY RECEIVE A RACER AWARD KEYCHAIN THAT THEY CAN FIT ON THEIR BACKPACK.

WE'RE ALSO GIVING OUT MADE FOR THE MARATHON BRACELETS, AND THEY GET TO HAVE A LITTLE RECEPTION WITH THEIR PARENTS WHERE WE HAVE PASTRIES AND, YOU KNOW, JUST A LITTLE TREAT AND A LITTLE TIME WITH THEIR PARENTS TO KIND OF CELEBRATE BEFORE THEY GO BACK TO CLASS.

AMAZING. THE WAY THEY CHEER FOR THEIR CLASS REPRESENTATIVE IS REALLY SPECIAL AND THEY ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER.

WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF THAT SINCE WE'VE STARTED THIS, AND THAT'S BEEN REALLY POSITIVE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE HEAR COMMENTS AND TEACHERS SHARE COMMENTS.

YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT COULD BE ME NEXT TIME OR MAYBE IT COULD BE YOU NEXT TIME AND THAT KIND OF THING. LAST YEAR WAS OUR FIRST YEAR DOING IT.

AND SO THE KEYCHAINS WERE NEW LAST YEAR. AND SO WE'RE STARTING TO SEE MORE AND MORE KIDS WEAR THEM ON THEIR BACKPACK AND WEAR THEM REGULARLY. JUST GETTING TO BE PART OF OF THE PROCESS. WE SEE KIDS JUST LIGHT UP, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY GET TO THE CAFETERIA AND THEY REALIZE THEIR PARENTS ARE THERE.

THAT'S A REALLY SPECIAL TIME FOR THEM TOO. SO WE SEE A LOT OF JOY.

WE SEE PRIDE. AND THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE, THAT CONFIDENCE.

WE WANT TO BUILD THAT CONFIDENCE IN OUR KIDS.

AND THIS I THINK REALLY CONTRIBUTES TO THAT AS WELL.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, DOCTOR MURRAY. BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? NOPE. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE HAVE ACTION ITEMS.

[H. Action Items]

[01:25:02]

THE PROJECT INCLUDES THE RENOVATION OF THE SECOND FLOOR CLASSROOMS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION SEATS AVAILABLE AT THE CLASSROOM AT THE AT THE CAMPUS.

WE ALSO INCLUDE SUPPORTING COMPONENTS THAT WILL ALLOW THE SCHOOL TO SERVE A LARGER STUDENT POPULATION.

AND WE HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION DATE OF JUNE 30TH, 2026.

FOUR BIDS WERE RECEIVED FOR THIS PROJECT BY CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PROCUREMENT ON JANUARY 23RD, 2026 AT 2:00. THEY WERE READ BY CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PROCUREMENT SENIOR SOURCING OFFICER JOSH MORGAN.

SUBURBAN REMODELING CORPORATION HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE THE LOWEST, RESPONSIBLE AND RESPONSIVE BID FOR THE PROJECT AT A LUMP SUM BASE BID OF $3,567,000. I WILL MENTION THAT THIS IS SIGNIFICANTLY UNDER BUDGET, SO THAT'S A VERY POSITIVE THING FOR US.

AND AN AWARD RECOMMENDATION LETTER HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY THE ARCHITECT.

HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. THANK YOU DOCTOR.

BOARD MEMBERS, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE MEMO NUMBER 017-26 AS PRESENTED.

SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY. THERE'S BEEN A MOTION AND A SECOND. MADAM CLERK.

PLEASE CALL. ROLL ON THE MOTION. DID I MISS SOMETHING? AND COKER I JENNIFER DABI A DOMINIQUE CHATTERS I STEVEN PARANTO I LISA HUDGINS I.

THE MEMO HAS APPROVED. NEXT WE HAVE MEMO NUMBER 01926 FROM DOCTOR HIGH GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR.

I WILL NOT BE PARTICIPATING ON IN THE VOTE OR IN ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS MATTER BECAUSE MY SPOUSE IS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE SCHOOL DIVISION.

ALL RIGHT. THIS EVENING I BRING BEFORE YOU MEMO 019 DASH 26 CHANGES TO THE 20 2526 SCHOOL CALENDAR AND IMPACT TO THE 2026 EMPLOYEE WORK CALENDAR.

AS YOU ALL ARE WELL AWARE, SCHOOL CLOSURES OCCURRED IN DECEMBER 2025, JANUARY AND FEBRUARY OF 2026 DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER.

AS A RESULT OF THE 2025. SCHOOL CALENDARS, ADJUSTMENTS MUST BE MADE TO RESTORE INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS OF 990 INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR.

THE ADJUSTMENTS ARE AS FOLLOWS. FEBRUARY 6TH, MARCH 19TH AND APRIL 17TH, WHICH WERE ALL EARLY RELEASE DAYS, WILL BECOME FULL INSTRUCTIONAL DAYS. FEBRUARY 16TH WILL NO LONGER BE A HOLIDAY FOR STUDENTS OR STAFF AS FEBRUARY 16TH, 2026 HAS NOW BEEN DESIGNATED AS AN INSTRUCTIONAL DAY.

THERE ARE IMPLICATIONS TO THE EMPLOYEE WORK CALENDARS DEPENDING ON THE WORK CALENDAR.

FEBRUARY 16TH WAS EITHER AN OUT OF CALENDAR DAY OR A PAID HOLIDAY FOR EMPLOYEES.

PER SCHOOL BOARD POLICY, 52 4011 MONTH EMPLOYEES EARNED PERSONAL LEAVE AND PER SCHOOL BOARD POLICY, 52 2012 MONTH EMPLOYEES EARNED VACATION DAYS IN RECOGNITION OF EXEMPT EMPLOYEES WHO WORK ON FEBRUARY 16TH, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT ONE ADDITIONAL VACATION OR PERSONAL DAY BE ADDED TO THE EMPLOYEES LEAVE BALANCE EFFECTIVE AFTER FEBRUARY 16TH FOR THE CHANGE TO THE SCHOOL CALENDAR. THERE ARE NO NOTEWORTHY BUDGET IMPLICATIONS IN STATE FUNDING RECEIVED IF THE DIVISION MEETS THE 990 INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS, WHICH WE WILL, OPERATIONAL EXPENDITURES ASSOCIATED WITH THESE CALENDAR ADJUSTMENTS WILL BE PARTIALLY MITIGATED BY SAVINGS REALIZED DURING THE RECENT SCHOOL CLOSURES, BUT WITH THE CHANGE TO THE STAFF CALENDAR, NONEXEMPT EMPLOYEES WILL RECEIVE PAY FOR HOURS WORKED ON FEBRUARY 16TH, ESTIMATED TO BE LESS THAN $0.5 MILLION. THE ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT OF ADDING ONE ADDITIONAL PERSONAL OR VACATION LEAVE DAY IS LIKELY TO SPREAD OVER FISCAL YEARS, AS EMPLOYEES USE IT. THIS INCREASES THE BALANCE SHEET LIABILITY BY ABOUT 2.1 MILLION.

ADDING THIS DAY DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE WRITE A $2.1 MILLION CHECK TODAY.

INSTEAD, IT'S A LONG TERM COMMITMENT BECAUSE EMPLOYEES CAN CARRY LEAVE OVER TIME.

THIS SITS ON OUR BOOKS AS A LIABILITY UNTIL THAT LEAVE IS USED.

THE RECOMMENDATIONS BEFORE YOU IS THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD APPROVE THE INCLEMENT WEATHER RELATED CHANGES TO THE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED 2025 2026 SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR.

IT IS ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT A ONE TIME WAIVER TO POLICY 5240 AND 5220 BE APPROVED, WHICH WOULD ADD ONE ADDITIONAL VACATION LEAVE DAY FOR 12 MONTH EMPLOYEES AND ONE ADDITIONAL PERSONAL LEAVE DAY FOR 11 MONTH EMPLOYEES, WHICH INCLUDES TEACHERS.

[01:30:05]

AS SOON AS IS PRACTICABLE. THANK YOU. DOCTOR HIGH BOARD MEMBERS, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? MEMO. MEMBER. MEMO NUMBER 019 DASH 26. AS PRESENTED.

SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MR. PARANTO. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. DOCTOR HIGH THANK YOU FOR THAT BREAKDOWN AND EXPLANATION.

I DO WANT TO COMMENT ON WHEN SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED SOME OF THE FEEDBACK I HAD RECEIVED FROM CONSTITUENTS WERE PRAISE.

THEY WERE GRATEFUL THAT THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE WELL IN ADVANCE, NOT THE MORNING OF IN ADDITION, THEY WERE GRATEFUL FOR THE EMAIL THAT WAS SENT OUT ORCHESTRATED BY MR. SMITH, WHICH EXPLAINED WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT AS FAR AS THE HOLIDAYS NOT BEING TAKEN OFF, HALF DAYS BECOMING FULL DAYS, WHAT HAVE YOU. SO GREATLY APPRECIATE THE THOUGHT IN THAT GOING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, TO OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF SO THAT THEY UNDERSTOOD WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT.

IF ANYTHING. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. WANT TO JUST CLARIFY, AND YOU DID STATE IT, BUT BUT JUST WANT TO CLARIFY BECAUSE I'VE AND JUST IN CONVERSATION, IT'S NOT A $2 MILLION CHECK.

NO, IT IS SPREAD OUT BECAUSE FOLKS ARE GOING TO TAKE THAT DAY.

IT MAY NOT BE THIS YEAR. THEY CAN ROLL IT OVER.

THEY CAN SAVE IT. WHAT HAVE YOU. AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S UNDERSTOOD IS WE'RE NOT APPROVING A $2 MILLION CHECK TO BE CUT TOMORROW.

THAT'S CORRECT. IT WOULD BE OVER TIME, AND SOME EMPLOYEES MAY NOT TAKE IT WHILE THEY'RE HERE.

IF THEY WERE TO LEAVE, THEN IT WOULD BE PAID OUT AT THAT TIME.

AND THE SAVINGS THAT YOU HAD REFERENCED WAS REALLY IN REGARDS TO TRANSPORTATION.

WE'RE NOT SPENDING ON FUEL. YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT IN THE BUILDING, SO IT'S NOT BEING USED, AND THERE'S COST SAVINGS IN THAT TO COUNTER THE NEARLY $2 MILLION PRICE TAG ON THAT. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT. OKAY. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME.

I TOO WANT TO CONGRATULATE AND THANK YOU, DOCTOR MURRAY.

DOCTOR HIGH YOUR TEAM FOR REMEMBERING OUR STAFF WHEN WE HAVE TO SWAP THINGS OUT, LIKE DAYS OFF. IT'S A BIG DEAL. AND ALTHOUGH WE HAD LOTS OF TIME OFF, IT STILL IS A DAY.

AND SO WHILE WE DIDN'T HAVE A DAY TO GIVE THEM, WE GAVE THEM A DAY IN A VERY CREATIVE WAY.

I THINK I JUST WANT TO APPLAUD. WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION, I THOUGHT, THAT IS A GREAT IDEA.

I DON'T THINK I WOULD EVER HAVE THOUGHT OF IT. SO WELL DONE, YOU GUYS.

THANK YOU FOR THAT. I JUST ALSO I DIDN'T KNOW THIS, AND I WAS HOPEFUL, BUT HOURLY EMPLOYEES CONTINUE TO GET PAID EVEN THOUGH EVEN DURING SNOW DAYS.

RIGHT. SO MAYBE SOMETIMES WE DON'T THINK ABOUT THAT OR KNOW THAT, BUT THAT IS A THING.

AND I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT THAT CONTINUES.

BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR CONSIDERING OUR STAFF. IN THIS MANNER.

SO THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION AND A SECOND.

MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE MOTION.

ANN COKER I DOMINIQUE CHATTERS I STEVEN PARANTO I LISA HUDGINS I.

THE MEMO IS APPROVED. NEXT, WE HAVE ITEMS FOR BOARD REVIEW.

[I. Items for Board Review]

NUMBER ONE, MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT FUNDS FY 2026.

NUMBER TWO BUDGET CHANGE REQUEST SUMMARY ACROSS CATEGORIES NOVEMBER 2025.

NUMBER THREE BUDGET CHANGE REQUEST SUMMARY ACROSS CATEGORIES DECEMBER 2025.

NUMBER FOUR BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS. NUMBER FIVE PRE-K UPDATE DECEMBER 2025 AND NUMBER NUMBER SIX FINAL ANNUAL STRATEGIC PLAN PROGRESS REVIEW. AND FINALLY, NUMBER SEVEN, MEMO NUMBER 018 DASH 26 AWARENESS OF TECHNICAL EDITS TO THE 20 2627 PROGRAM OF STUDIES. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. NEXT WE HAVE THIS EVENING SUPERINTENDENT'S REMARKS,

[J. Superintendent's Remarks]

FOREMOST, AND IN RECOGNITION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

AND I APPRECIATE YOUR WORDS TO KICK OFF OUR MEETING THIS EVENING.

I JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE AND SHOUT OUT SOME OF OUR LOCAL LEADERS SOME OF OUR LOCAL HEROES FRANK CARPENTER,

[01:35:05]

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. I ALSO KIND OF WANT TO JUMP IN WHERE WE JUST LEFT OFF WITH INCLEMENT WEATHER.

FROM A PLACE OF DEEP APPRECIATION TO A FEW EMPLOYEE GROUPS, OBVIOUSLY MANY ARE WORTH THINKING, BUT OUR BUILDING OPERATIONS SUPERVISORS AND FACILITY TEAMS WERE THE FIRST BOOTS AND SHOVELS ON THE GROUND ATTEMPTING AS BEST THEY COULD TO BREAK THE SNOW CREEK, GET OUR SIDEWALKS READY. SO I WANT TO THANK THEM.

AND THEY WILL BE RECOGNIZED THIS MONTH AS OUR GAME CHANGERS AT THE END OF THE MONTH.

SECONDLY, WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PUT KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL IF WE DIDN'T HAVE A THOROUGH ASSESSMENT OF EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY OF THIS EXPANSIVE COUNTY. AND SO OUR BUS DRIVERS WENT OUT ON THE ROAD AND DROVE THEIR ROUTES AND REPORTED BACK TO US IMPASSABLE ROADS OR PROBLEMATIC ROADS WHICH WE WERE THEN ABLE TO DIRECTLY SHARE AND COORDINATE WITH VDOT.

WE HAD A DIRECT LINE OF COMMUNICATION, SOMETHING I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED IN MY MANY YEARS OF OF WEATHER CALLS.

AND THEY WENT OUT AND BEGAN SCRUBBING OUR LISTS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS WERE READY, WHICH WAS KIND OF THE FINAL PHASE IN GETTING OUR KIDS BACK INTO SCHOOLS.

AND LASTLY, I WANT TO THANK OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND OUR PARKS AND REC TEAMS THEY PARTNERED WITH SEVERAL PRIVATE CONTRACTING SERVICES TO CLEAR OUR LOTS AND OUR LOOPS.

THERE WAS A POINT IN TIME WHERE IT FELT UNBREAKABLE, WHAT WAS OUT THERE ON OUR PAVEMENT.

AND SO WE HAD TO BRING IN EXCAVATOR CREWS. AND I JUST WANT THE PUBLIC TO REALIZE THAT WHILE OTHER COUNTIES WERE STILL BURIED WITHIN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, IT WAS CHESTERFIELD IN A TRIANGULATED PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE SCHOOLS, THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND VDOT THAT GOT OUR ROADS BACK INTO A RESPECTABLE AND SAFER POSITION FOR US TO SEND KIDS AND GET THEM BACK WHERE WE NEED THEM, WHICH IS IN OUR CLASSROOMS. WE OPENED THIS EVENING WITH OUR PUBLIC HEARING.

SO I FEEL IT APPROPRIATE TO ONCE MORE THANK BOB MEISTER AND DENISE BRANSCOMB FOR DOING ALL THE HEAVY LIFTING OF MAKING MATH MAKE SENSE TO ME.

IT'S EASY TO SAY THAT I WANT TO PRIORITIZE THIS, BUT THEY'RE THE ONES THAT THEN GO STRESS OUT ABOUT IT IN ANOTHER ROOM AND FIGURE IT ALL OUT. SO TO THE TWO OF YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND TO EVERYBODY ELSE WHO CONTRIBUTED, THAT'S WHAT BOB WOULD WANT ME TO SAY.

IT WASN'T JUST HE AND DENISE. HE WOULD WANT TO PAY THAT COMPLIMENT FORWARD ACROSS ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS AND RESPECTIVE CHIEF DOMAINS. I WANT TO THANK COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO CAME OUT TO ANY OF OUR TOWN HALLS.

I FEEL LIKE THEY WERE INFORMATIVE. WE HAD AN UPTICK IN SOME OF OUR ATTENDANCE THIS YEAR, AND THAT WAS VERY APPRECIATED.

IN FUTURE, WE'D LIKE TO SEE MORE ENGAGEMENT IN THIS PROCESS.

IT'S SO VERY KEY IN UNDERSTANDING THE INNER WORKINGS AND THE UNDERPINNINGS OF WHAT WE ARE VALUING AND PRIORITIZING MOVING FORWARD.

BUT WE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT IN A VACUUM. AND SO WE APPRECIATE OTHER VOICES IN THAT PROCESS.

I ALSO WANT TO REEMPHASIZE MY APPRECIATION FOR OUR CTE STAFF AND OUR SCHOOL COUNSELORS, AS THEY HAVE THEIR MONTH AND WEEKS.

IT WAS A PLEASURE TO GET TO RECOGNIZE THEM BOTH LAST WEEK AND TONIGHT.

AND I THINK THAT'S IT FOR ME. BUT DOCTOR HIGH HAD ONE ADDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT.

THANK YOU, DOCTOR MURRAY. I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CONGRATULATE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER DOMINIQUE CHATTERS, WHO HAS BEEN SELECTED AS A 2026 TRAILBLAZER HONOREE BY THE AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN'S MUSEUM OF ART AND HISTORY.

SHE'S BEING RECOGNIZED ON MARCH 7TH, 2026. THIS DISTINCTION CELEBRATES HER IMPACTFUL WORK IN EDUCATION, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, COMMUNITY ADVOCACY, AND HER CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO SERVICE AND SERVICE DRIVEN LEADERSHIP.

CONGRATULATIONS, MISS CHATTERS. WELL DESERVED.

[01:40:07]

CONGRATULATIONS, MISS CHATTERS. NEXT WE HAVE ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS AND SCHOOL BOARD COMMENTS.

[K. Announcements, Communications, and School Board Comments]

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH, 2026. IF THERE'S NO FURTHER BUSINESS, WE NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

SO MOVED. MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE MOTION? ANN COKER. AYE. JENNIFER DARBY. AYE. DOMINIQUE CHATTERS.

AYE. STEVEN PARANTO. AYE. LISA HUDGINS. AYE. THE MOTION CARRIES THE FEBRUARY 10TH, 2026 SCHOOL BOARD BUSINESS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.